MOT History from tests of petrol AUDI A3s year 1997

Review the list of common AUDI A3 failures below or to perform a specific mot history check on your AUDI then use our popular KnowYourCar service

mot history

Pass percent:50.39%

(The average a petrol AUDI A3 year 1997 passes without issue)

Based on:41,393 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Headlamp aim out of alignment	4583
Registration plate lamp issues	3132
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	2839
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	2794
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	1830
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	1563
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	1551
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|7.3.D.3\|	1499
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	1326
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive \|7.3.D.4\|	1215
Registration plate issues	1195
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	957
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	890
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	882
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	870
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	866
Rear brake binding	844
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	782
Brake pipe excessively corroded	716
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	663
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	642
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	637
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	627
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	583
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	578
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	553
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	534
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	502
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	487
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	470
Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	460
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	359
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	355
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	352
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	335
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	332
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	331
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	308
Windscreen has damage	307
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	300
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	300
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	297
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	289
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	257
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	256
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault \|5.4.2\|	254
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	252
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	252
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	251
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	229
Exhaust emits excessive dense blue smoke during acceleration \|7.3.A.2c\|	222
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	217
Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	216
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	216
Nearside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	209
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	207
Centre Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	205
Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	202
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	201
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	198
Offside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	197
Offside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	191
Driver`s seat insecure \|6.2.A.1\|	190
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	188
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	184
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	175
Brake hose damaged	174
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	171
Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	169
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	167
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	167
Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	165
Rear fog lamp tell tale not working \|1.3.1b\|	161
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	161
Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	161
Offside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	159
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	153
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	152
Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	147
Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	146
Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on \|8.2.1b\|	145
Offside Front Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment \|2.5.A.1c\|	142
Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement	140
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	140
Offside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	130
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	129
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	124
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	121
Front brake application uneven	119
Nearside Front Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment \|2.5.A.1c\|	117
Nearside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	116
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	116
Nearside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	109
Nearside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	107
Rear brake application uneven	103
Offside Rear Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	103
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	102
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	101
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	100
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	99
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	98
Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	97
Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	97
Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	97
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	96
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	95
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	94
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate \|3.4.1b\|	94
Battery insecure \|1.9.1\|	94
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	93
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	92
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	91
Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	91
Nearside Rear Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	90
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	89
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	88
Nearside Front Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	82
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	82
Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	81
Offside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	81
Driver`s seat cannot be secured in the upright position. \|6.2.A.2\|	80
Nearside Front Brake hose excessively damaged \|3.6.B.4d\|	79
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	78
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	78
Nearside Rear brake caliper leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	77
Offside Front Brake hose excessively damaged \|3.6.B.4d\|	77
Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism is broken \|3.1.5\|	76
Nearside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	74
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	74
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	73
Offside Front Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	73
Nearside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	72
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement \|7.2.4b\|	72
Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	71
Nearside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users \|1.8.A.1a\|	71
Driver`s door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle \|6.2.B.1b\|	71
Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	70
Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view \|8.1.2a\|	70
Offside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	69
Front passenger seat insecure \|6.2.3\|	69
Nearside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	69
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| incorrect colour \|1.1.A.3e\|	68
Offside Front coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	67
Offside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users \|1.8.A.1a\|	66
Exhaust emits dense blue smoke at idle \|7.3.A.2b\|	66
Offside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	65
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| incorrect colour \|1.1.A.3e\|	65
Nearside Front suspension has excessive movement at a wishbone pin or bush \|2.5.A.1c\|	64
Nearside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	64
Centre Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	64
Driver`s door does not latch securely closed \|6.2.B.1a\|	63
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	63
Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	63
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	63
Rear fog lamp switch faulty \|1.3.1a\|	63
Nearside Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on \|8.2.1b\|	62
Offside Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on \|8.2.1b\|	62

We get to these numbers by trawling through over 1 billion MOT test results since 2004 and crunched the numbers. We remove anything to do with Tyres, as they are model independent and group together common non-model specific issues. We are trying to get to a picture of what models have what issues.

Please note: We take the data from the DVSA. This data is raw and can contain typos and spelling mistakes that garages may have entered while recording a MOT result. Specifically miss-match on names of models and makes. We are constantly cleaning the data so bear with the odd issue.

Got suggestions? We’re improving this section all the time. If you have any suggestions, please let us know.

MOT History from tests of petrol AUDI A3s year 1997

Find us on Facebook