2003 Audi A3 MOT pass rate: 64.5% (4,828 tests)
Is the 2003 A3 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2003-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 62.3% -2.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 66.4% +1.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 65.7% -0.5 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2003 A3
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,683 | 24.9% |
| 2 | Suspension | 1,323 | 19.5% |
| 3 | Brakes | 1,253 | 18.5% |
| 4 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 590 | 8.7% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 569 | 8.4% |
| 6 | Tyres | 452 | 6.7% |
All A3 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2,646 | 67.2% | +0.6 pts | 128,342 |
| 2002 | 3,693 | 64.8% | -0.9 pts | 135,938 |
| 2003 (this page) | 4,828 | 64.5% | -0.5 pts | 132,959 |
| 2004 | 10,467 | 61.6% | -2.7 pts | 133,182 |
| 2005 | 23,828 | 64.0% | -0.4 pts | 137,184 |
| 2006 | 35,677 | 64.1% | -0.3 pts | 135,366 |
| 2007 | 43,676 | 66.4% | +1.2 pts | 133,074 |
| 2008 | 55,920 | 66.6% | +1.5 pts | 126,012 |
| 2009 | 66,243 | 68.4% | +2.0 pts | 120,103 |
| 2010 | 73,679 | 68.4% | +1.0 pts | 113,344 |
| 2011 | 63,911 | 70.5% | +1.4 pts | 113,800 |
| 2012 | 76,314 | 72.3% | +1.1 pts | 105,458 |
| 2013 | 81,420 | 78.3% | +5.0 pts | 96,528 |
| 2014 | 115,893 | 82.2% | +6.4 pts | 84,782 |
| 2015 | 123,925 | 85.1% | +6.4 pts | 74,559 |
| 2016 | 115,727 | 87.2% | +5.9 pts | 64,458 |
| 2017 | 100,569 | 88.3% | +4.3 pts | 55,719 |
| 2018 | 79,981 | 89.5% | +3.1 pts | 46,072 |
| 2019 | 61,443 | 89.7% | +1.3 pts | 38,664 |
| 2020 | 13,546 | 90.1% | +0.2 pts | 30,588 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Audi A3 years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2003 Audi A3 reliable?
2003-registered examples passed 64.5% of their MOT tests (4,828 tests, 2023–2025), -0.5 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 23 years old with a median 132,959 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2003 A3?
The median tested example shows 132,959 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2003 A3?
In this cohort petrols pass 67.2% of tests against 61.2% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.