What year Audi A3 SE TDI is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 2015 Audi A3 SE TDI has the highest pass rate at 93.9%, out of 313 vehicles tested.

What are the most common Audi A3 SE TDI MOT failures?

The most common Audi A3 SE TDI MOT failures vary by year. Check the individual year pages for detailed defect breakdowns — links in the table above.

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Audi A3 SE TDI — Reliability by Year

2,902 vehicles · MOT data 2005–2015 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the Audi A3 SE TDI was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

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Best pass rate year

2015

93.9% pass rate · 313 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

2005

73.3% pass rate · 146 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
2015	93.9%	86,867 mi	313
2014	92.5%	95,663 mi	790
2013	89.5%	100,516 mi	643
2012	89.0%	109,164 mi	209
2011	86.6%	117,739 mi	155
2010	83.7%	126,657 mi	236
2008	80.3%	144,275 mi	120
2007	81.6%	152,495 mi	126
2006	76.8%	154,250 mi	164
2005	73.3%	169,298 mi	146

Which year Audi A3 SE TDI is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests. Green = noticeably above average for this model; red = noticeably below average.

Tests range from an average of 86,867 miles (newest year) to 169,298 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →

Trying to decide which year to buy?

We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a Audi A3 SE TDI.

See the buying guide →

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