Used car guide

1999 Audi S3: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Audi S3 first registered in 1999: we looked at the 129 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 129 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

129MOTs of 1999 cars, done in 2023–2025
62%pass first time (all 1999 cars: 63%)
5,700typical miles a year
5×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1999 Audi S3?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1999 Audi S3 than on all cars registered in 1999.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints5× usual
    Audi S3
    25.6% All 1999 cars
    5.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 11.6%, against 2.2% of all 1999 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.

Common 1999 Audi S3 MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1999 Audi S3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    51% 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
    36% 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
    32% 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
    29% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    26% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1999 Audi S3

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

  1. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 5× as often on the 1999 Audi S3 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at an Audi S3?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Audi S3 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023–Too new for MOT data
20221,703Tyres 22%
20213,191Tyres 21%
20201,819Tyres 21%
2019–Too few tests
2018–Too few tests
2017165Tyres 18%
2016225Tyres 17%
2015453Tyres 19%
20142,107Tyres 22%
2013640Tyres 21%
2012522Tyres 23%
2011869Suspension 27%
20101,029Suspension 27%
2009805Suspension 27%
2008823Suspension 31%
2007939Tyres 28%
2006–Too few tests
2003322Brakes 39%
2002504Suspension 32%
2001316Suspension 34%
2000232Suspension 41%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Audi S3 cars first registered in 1999. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score