Is the Audi S3 reliable?

The Audi S3 has an average MOT pass rate of 86% across 19 years, based on 8,907 tests in 2024. That's 4 points above the national average of 82%. The most reliable year is 2017 with a 96% pass rate.

Which year Audi S3 is best?

The 2017 Audi S3 has the highest MOT pass rate at 96%, while the 2003 model has the lowest at 72%. There's a 24 percentage point spread between the best and worst years.

Audi S3 Running Costs, MOT Pass Rates & Reliability

Audi S3

Reliability, running costs, and MOT data across 19 years from 8,907 real MOT tests.

Avg Pass Rate

86%

Total Tests

8,907

Best Year

2017 (96%)

Years Covered

How reliable is the Audi S3?

vs national average+4% (82% avg)

vs Audi brand average-4% (90% avg)

Best to worst year spread24 percentage points

Reliability trendImproving over years

Audi S3 by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2019	96%	49	32,831 mi
2018	93%	100	48,229 mi
2017	96%	135	60,095 mi
2016	93%	190	61,138 mi
2015	94%	537	70,456 mi
2014	91%	1,975	75,271 mi
2013	92%	616	80,060 mi
2012	87%	341	88,186 mi
2011	87%	835	89,620 mi
2010	85%	1,034	96,246 mi
2009	88%	643	100,681 mi
2008	85%	620	114,238 mi
2007	84%	671	117,265 mi
2006	81%	54	112,877 mi
2003	72%	235	137,030 mi
2002	80%	362	128,988 mi
2001	80%	237	123,516 mi
2000	79%	141	132,942 mi
1999	76%	132	143,273 mi

Checking a specific Audi S3?

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About the Audi S3

The Audi S3 has been tested 8,907 times in 2024 MOT data across 19 model years (1999 to 2019), with an average pass rate of 86%. That's slightly above the national average of 82%. Available as petrol.

Best and Worst Years

The 2017 model is the most reliable with a 96% pass rate from 135 tests. The 2003 model has the lowest at 72%. With a 24 point spread, choosing the right year makes a big difference to reliability.

Reliability Trend

Newer AUDI S3s show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 10 percentage points.

Mileage Across Years

The oldest model in our data (1999) averages 143,273 miles, while the newest (2019) averages 32,831 miles. Older models have covered serious mileage, so suspension and drivetrain wear are worth checking.

Compared to the Audi brand average of 90%, the S3 is 4 points lower, placing it among the less reliable Audi models.

Click any year in the table above to see detailed running costs, individual reliability data, and comparisons with similar cars.