2003 Audi A3: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2003 Audi A3?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2003 Audi A3 than on all cars registered in 2003.

• Drive shaft (CV) joints2× usual
  Audi A3

  13.3% All 2003 cars

  6.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, against 2.9% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

  At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

• Sub-frame2× usual
  Audi A3

  11.1% All 2003 cars

  5.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

  At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

• Side repeaters2.8× usual
  Audi A3

  4.8% All 2003 cars

  1.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 0.9% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Individual direction indicators2× usual
  Audi A3

  6.3% All 2003 cars

  3.1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 1.4% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

• Suspension arm1.9× usual
  Audi A3

  6.7% All 2003 cars

  3.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

Common 2003 Audi A3 MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2003 Audi A3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Suspension
  52% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Lights and electrics
  43% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Brakes
  42% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Tyres
  31% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Oil and fluid leaks
  17% of testsRough price £80–£600

  At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

• Exhaust and emissions
  15% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

  At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Known faults on the 2003 Audi A3

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Flywheel recall (2003 to 2005)

  Early cars

  Early cars were recalled because the flywheel could fail.

  At the viewing: Ask for proof the flywheel was replaced.

  If it needs doing: Clutch and dual-mass flywheel, about £650–£1,200. ClickMechanic

  Source: What Car?: common Audi A3 (2003-2012) problems

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2003 Audi A3

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Was the flywheel recall done?
2. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2003 Audi A3 as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2003 Audi A3 as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the side repeaters? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the 2003 Audi A3 as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?