Used car guide

2014 Audi S3: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Audi S3 first registered in 2014: we looked at the 730 MOTs these cars had during 2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

730MOTs of 2014 cars, done in 2025
85%pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%)
7,100typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for suspension arm

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2014 Audi S3?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2014 Audi S3 than on all cars registered in 2014.

  • Suspension arm2.4× usual
    Audi S3
    4.1% All 2014 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.1% of all 2014 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.

Better than most

Coil springs: 2.7% here, against 6.8% of all 2014 cars.

Common 2014 Audi S3 MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2014 Audi S3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    19% 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.

  • Brakes
    15% 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.

  • Suspension
    13% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    7% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Lights and electrics
    4% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2014 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 suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the 2014 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
20221,630Tyres 22%
20211,571Tyres 20%
2020629Tyres 23%
2019–Too few tests
2018–Too few tests
2017–Too few tests
2016–Too few tests
2015179Tyres 20%
2013210Tyres 20%
2012183Suspension 26%
2011300Suspension 27%
2010355Suspension 30%
2009260Suspension 28%
2008268Suspension 35%
2007290Suspension 35%
2006–Too few tests
2003–Too few tests
2002159Suspension 30%
2001–Too few tests
2000–Too few tests
1999–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, counting the MOTs of Audi S3 cars first registered in 2014. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score