MOT History from tests of petrol AUDI A3s year 1998

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:53.21%

(The average a petrol AUDI A3 year 1998 passes without issue)

Based on:68,859 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Headlamp aim out of alignment	6908
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	4361
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	3021
Registration plate lamp issues	2911
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	2521
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	2327
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	2271
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|7.3.D.3\|	2185
Registration plate issues	1945
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	1812
Rear brake binding	1759
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1717
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive \|7.3.D.4\|	1701
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1477
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	1458
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	1183
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	1163
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	1097
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	1072
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	950
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	949
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	947
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	899
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	847
Offside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	778
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	764
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault \|5.4.2\|	695
Nearside Rear coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	690
Brake pipe excessively corroded	598
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	566
Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	558
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	557
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	519
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	497
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	492
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	490
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	457
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	443
Windscreen has damage	432
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	432
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	420
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	415
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	413
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	400
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	338
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	327
Centre Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	316
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	315
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	314
Exhaust emits excessive dense blue smoke during acceleration \|7.3.A.2c\|	300
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	292
Nearside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	285
Nearside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	281
Offside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	274
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	266
Offside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	264
Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	262
Offside Front Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment \|2.5.A.1c\|	260
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	260
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	255
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	255
Driver`s seat insecure \|6.2.A.1\|	254
Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	249
Nearside Rear coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	249
Nearside Front Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment \|2.5.A.1c\|	245
Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement	243
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	232
Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	228
Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	221
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	221
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	219
Brake hose damaged	216
Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone `A` \|8.3.1e\|	207
Offside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	206
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	198
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	198
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	193
Front brake application uneven	192
Offside Rear Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	189
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	188
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	177
Rear brake application uneven	177
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	176
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	176
Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	169
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	163
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	162
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	162
Offside Rear brake caliper leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	157
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	154
Nearside Rear Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	154
Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	152
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	147
Battery insecure \|1.9.1\|	146
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	146
Nearside Front Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	142
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	139
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	133
Nearside Front coil spring incomplete \|2.4.C.1a\|	133
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	132
Offside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	129
Nearside Rear brake caliper leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	129
Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	127
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	124
Driver`s seat cannot be secured in the upright position. \|6.2.A.2\|	121
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	120
Offside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	119
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	119
Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	116
Offside Front coil spring broken \|2.4.C.1a\|	116
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	115
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	115
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	113
Brake pedal spongy \|3.3.B.1b\|	113
Nearside Front coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	112
Nearside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	112
Rear brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	112
Exhaust emits dense blue smoke at idle \|7.3.A.2b\|	110
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	110
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	110
Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view \|8.1.2a\|	109
Offside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	108
Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split \|2.5.C.1a\|	108
Offside Front Brake hose excessively damaged \|3.6.B.4d\|	108
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	107
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	107
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement \|7.2.4b\|	107
Nearside Rear Wheel bolt\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	105
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	105
Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	104
Brake performance not tested \|3.7.A.1\|	102
Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	102
Nearside Front suspension has excessive movement at a wishbone pin or bush \|2.5.A.1c\|	101
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	101

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 1998

Find us on Facebook