Audi A3 Common Faults in the UK
8V (2013–2020) — Premium compact/family hatchback (also sold as Sportback, saloon and cabriolet) competing with the BMW 1 Series, Mercedes A-Class and VW Golf. Updated 6 October 2026.
This guide covers the 8V (2013–2020) only. Older A3 generations have different engines and faults — for one of those, see how to check any car for known faults.
The Audi A3 8V (2013–2020) is a solidly built, reasonably reliable premium hatchback. The key check is the 7-speed DQ200 dry-clutch S tronic on 1.4 TFSI and lower-power diesels: hesitant pull-away or low-speed shudder points to expensive mechatronic or clutch wear. On a 2.0 TDI, insist on proof of the cambelt change. Best buy: 2019–2020. Worst: no single year stands out on DVSA MOT results.
85.9% of Audi A3s registered 2013–2022 pass the MOT first time, 5.1 points above all cars registered in those years (80.8%). These are the cars this guide covers that were 3 to 12 years old when DVSA tested them in 2025, counted from 29,547 DVSA tests; a pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
Counting every registration year DVSA holds for the Audi A3 (2004–2022), which includes generations this guide does not cover, 80.1% pass first time, from 43,706 tests.
Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. Compared against cars of the same registration years, because pass rates otherwise mostly measure how old a model's surviving fleet is.
See it by registration year and by mileage ↓The asking-price figures above are the middle 80% and the median of what sellers were asking on Autoza on 16 October 2026 — not what buyers pay — for Audi A3 cars registered 2013–2020. They are worked out from the cars on sale when this page is generated, and none is shown when fewer than 10 cars qualify. The road tax line comes from GOV.UK's vehicle tax rate tables (2026/27 rates). The other quick-stats values are indicative editorial estimates aggregated from owner-forum sentiment, recall data and reliability surveys. We do not publish a UK price index, and no figure here should be quoted as one.
Best and worst years to buy
We name a year as a best or worst buy only where the DVSA MOT table further down does not rate it the other way.
Late-production 2019–2020 cars are the most mature examples of this generation, built several years after Audi's 2016 facelift, and benefit from the cumulative running production changes to the 1.4 TFSI wastegate/turbo linkage and to EA288 diesel EGR/DPF calibration that progressively reduced the niggles more commonly reported on earlier, pre-facelift cars, alongside the most refined version of the MMI infotainment system fitted to this generation.
The earliest 2013–2014 cars carry the most forum and press reports of the 1.4 TFSI wastegate actuator rattle and diesel EGR/DPF glitches that Audi progressively addressed through later production changes, and as the oldest cars in the generation they have had the longest time to accumulate DSG mechatronic and clutch wear. The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2013 and 2014 registrations above all cars registered those years, so they are not named as years to avoid. Judge a A3 by its registration, service history and the checks below rather than by year.
Known faults — Audi A3 8V (2013–2020)
How to read this list. Every item here is owner-reported: patterns that come up repeatedly with workshops, owner forums and reliability surveys. Those are worth checking on a viewing, but we hold no count of how many cars have each one, other than any survey share a card itself quotes. Treat an owner-reported item as a question to ask, not a fault this car has.
S tronic (DSG) dry-clutch gearbox
- Symptoms
- Hesitant or jerky pulling away from a stop, a shudder felt through the car at low speed, delayed gear engagement, an occasional flashing PRNDS display, and in worse cases a gearbox fault warning with the car defaulting to limp mode.
- Years affected
- 2013–2020, most reported on 1.4 TFSI petrol and lower-power diesel models fitted with the 7-speed DQ200 dry-clutch unit — Problems most commonly emerge from around 40,000–60,000 miles onward, a dry-clutch box for which VW Group schedules no oil service
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Roughly £800–£1,500 for a specialist mechatronic unit repair or reconditioning; a full replacement unit from a main dealer can run to £2,000 or more
- What to check before buying
- On the test drive, pull away from rest several times both cold and warm and feel for hesitation or shudder; VW Group schedules no gearbox oil service for the dry-clutch DQ200, so absent DSG fluid records are normal rather than a red flag (a wet-clutch S tronic, as on the 2.0 TDI quattro, does have a scheduled oil service, so check which box the car has); ask a garage to scan for stored gearbox fault codes
2.0 TDI cambelt (timing belt)
- Symptoms
- No warning symptoms beforehand — if the belt snaps the pistons strike the valves and the engine is destroyed.
- Years affected
- 2013–2020 2.0 TDI diesel models — Manufacturer interval is up to around 100,000 miles or 5 years, though many independent specialists recommend renewing by 75,000 miles for peace of mind on a used example
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Roughly £400–£900 for a routine belt, tensioner and water pump replacement at an independent specialist; a neglected belt that snaps typically means an engine rebuild or replacement costing several thousand pounds
- What to check before buying
- Get documented proof of cambelt replacement, including date and mileage, from the service history; if there is no evidence and the car is anywhere near the interval, budget for immediate replacement or negotiate the price down accordingly
1.4 TFSI wastegate actuator rattle
- Symptoms
- A metallic rattling noise from the engine bay, most noticeable on light throttle around 1,600–2,200rpm and worse from cold; can progress to reduced boost or limp mode if left unaddressed.
- Years affected
- Most reported on pre-facelift 2013–2016 1.4 TFSI models, particularly the lower-power 122/125PS versions — Linked more to corrosion and wear of the actuator linkage than to a fixed mileage, but more commonly reported from around 40,000 miles onward
- Indicative repair (UK)
- From around £50–£150 for an aftermarket actuator linkage fix, up to roughly £400–£900 for a full wastegate actuator or turbocharger replacement
- What to check before buying
- Listen for a rattle from the engine bay on a cold start and under light throttle in the 1,600–2,200rpm range
2.0 TDI EGR valve and cooler
- Symptoms
- Rough idle, hesitant throttle response, an illuminated engine management light, and in more serious cases the EGR cooler leaking coolant internally.
- Years affected
- 2.0 TDI diesel models across the 8V range, more common on cars used mainly for short urban journeys — Commonly reported from around 60,000–90,000 miles onward
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Roughly £250–£500 for an EGR valve clean or replacement; around £500–£900 if the EGR cooler itself needs replacing
- What to check before buying
- Ask about any history of engine warning lights or limp mode; check coolant for contamination and ask whether the EGR system has recently been cleaned or replaced
Diesel particulate filter (DPF) blockage
- Symptoms
- DPF warning light, reduced power or limp mode, smoky exhaust on start-up, and difficulty completing a regeneration cycle.
- Years affected
- 2.0 TDI diesel models across the 8V range, especially those used predominantly for short or urban trips — Not tied to a fixed mileage — risk depends far more on driving pattern, with cars doing mostly short journeys affected at any mileage
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Roughly £50–£100 for a forced regeneration at a garage; upwards of £1,000–£1,500 for a replacement DPF if it is fully blocked or damaged
- What to check before buying
- Ask how the car has typically been used (motorway vs short city trips) and check the service history for DPF warning lights or forced regenerations
Water pump (TFSI petrol models)
- Symptoms
- Coolant puddles underneath the car, a coolant level warning light, and in the worst case overheating if a leak goes unnoticed.
- Years affected
- TFSI petrol models across the 2013–2020 range — No fixed mileage link, but worth checking closely on any car over roughly 50,000 miles
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Roughly £300–£600 including labour to replace
- What to check before buying
- Check underneath the car and around the engine bay for coolant staining or residue, and check the coolant level and condition
MMI infotainment/touchscreen glitches
- Symptoms
- The sat-nav/MMI touchscreen freezing or becoming unresponsive, Bluetooth or connectivity drop-outs, and on models with the pop-up screen, a creaking noise as it rises and retracts.
- Years affected
- 2013–2020 — per What Car's owner reliability survey data this was the single largest reported fault category on the A3 8V — No clear mileage link — largely software or component related rather than wear related
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Often resolved free with a software update or system reset; a faulty MMI control unit replacement can run to roughly £300–£600 or more
- What to check before buying
- Thoroughly test the touchscreen, sat-nav and Bluetooth pairing on the test drive, and on pop-up screen versions listen for creaking as it rises and lowers
Audi A3 MOT results by year and mileage
Measured from DVSA’s own MOT test records for tests carried out in 2025, not from owner reports.
By registration year
Against all cars registered in the same year, the MOT pass rate for the A3 was higher in 7 and level in 3 of the 10 registration years from 2013 to 2022 with enough tests to measure. The widest gap above is 2014 registrations: 83.6% against 74.3%.
| Registered | A3 | All cars that year | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20221,669 tests | 90.1% | 91.2% | −1.1 level |
| 20211,969 tests | 90.2% | 90.1% | +0.1 level |
| 20201,520 tests | 90.1% | 88.7% | +1.4 level |
| 20192,150 tests | 89.0% | 86.9% | +2.1 higher |
| 20182,850 tests | 88.7% | 84.5% | +4.2 higher |
| 20173,747 tests | 87.9% | 82.2% | +5.7 higher |
| 20164,231 tests | 85.5% | 79.4% | +6.1 higher |
| 20154,527 tests | 83.8% | 76.7% | +7.1 higher |
| 20144,091 tests | 83.6% | 74.3% | +9.3 higher |
| 20132,793 tests | 77.0% | 71.9% | +5.1 higher |
By mileage at the test
Against cars of the same age on the same mileage, the pass rate for the A3 was higher in every one of the 8 mileage bands with enough tests. How other models compare at the same mileage.
Show the table by mileage (8 bands)
| Mileage | A3 | Same age and mileage | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20k–40k4,974 tests | 90.9% | 88.9% | +1.9 higher |
| 40k–60k7,231 tests | 87.2% | 82.8% | +4.5 higher |
| 60k–80k7,884 tests | 82.8% | 76.9% | +6.0 higher |
| 80k–100k7,360 tests | 78.6% | 71.7% | +6.9 higher |
| 100k–120k5,311 tests | 74.5% | 68.0% | +6.5 higher |
| 120k–140k3,946 tests | 71.9% | 66.1% | +5.7 higher |
| 140k–160k2,622 tests | 67.7% | 65.1% | +2.6 higher |
| 160k+3,001 tests | 67.1% | 65.0% | +2.1 higher |
Only a major or dangerous defect fails an MOT. A minor defect is recorded on the certificate and the car still passes, and an advisory is not a failure at all.
We don’t give a recall count for the Audi A3: whether a recall applies depends on the individual car. Check the one you are looking at by entering its registration on GOV.UK’s vehicle recall checker, and see how to check a car for known faults for the other free checks.
Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Odometer readings below 100 or above 400,000 miles are discarded as misreadings, and cars under three years old are excluded because no MOT is yet due. Sampled from nine months of 2025 (January, February, April, May, July, August, September, October and November). Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. Registration years shown are cars 3 to 12 years old when tested; the smallest rests on 1,520 tests. A gap is called level when it is under one percentage point or inside the 95% sampling margin for that number of tests. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Who this car suits — and who should look elsewhere
Buyers wanting Golf-level engineering with a more premium interior and stronger resale values. A 2016+ facelift car with the revised infotainment and a documented cambelt history is the safer buy.
Anyone considering a pre-2016 1.4 TFSI or 2.0 TDI without a documented cambelt change — both engines drive their camshafts by a toothed belt, and a failed belt is the single most expensive fault on the car.
Alternatives to consider
If the Audi A3 doesn't suit, these comparable models are worth a look in the UK market:
Audi A3: questions buyers ask
What are the most common faults on a used Audi A3 in the UK?
The Audi A3 8V (2013–2020) is a solidly built, reasonably reliable premium hatchback. The key check is the 7-speed DQ200 dry-clutch S tronic on 1.4 TFSI and lower-power diesels: hesitant pull-away or low-speed shudder points to expensive mechatronic or clutch wear. On a 2.0 TDI, insist on proof of the cambelt change. Best buy: 2019–2020. Worst: no single year stands out on DVSA MOT results.
What is the best year to buy a used Audi A3 in the UK?
Best-buy years: 2019, 2020. Late-production 2019–2020 cars are the most mature examples of this generation, built several years after Audi's 2016 facelift, and benefit from the cumulative running production changes to the 1.4 TFSI wastegate/turbo linkage and to EA288 diesel EGR/DPF calibration that progressively reduced the niggles more commonly reported on earlier, pre-facelift cars, alongside the most refined version of the MMI infotainment system fitted to this generation.
What years of Audi A3 should I avoid in the UK?
No specific year of the 8V (2013–2020) Audi A3 is generally avoided. The earliest 2013–2014 cars carry the most forum and press reports of the 1.4 TFSI wastegate actuator rattle and diesel EGR/DPF glitches that Audi progressively addressed through later production changes, and as the oldest cars in the generation they have had the longest time to accumulate DSG mechatronic and clutch wear. The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2013 and 2014 registrations above all cars registered those years, so they are not named as years to avoid. Judge a A3 by its registration, service history and the checks below rather than by year.
How much does a used Audi A3 cost in the UK in 2026?
What sellers were asking on Autoza on 16 October 2026, for Audi A3 cars registered 2013–2020: £5,750–£13,290, median £8,999 — the range is the middle 80% of asking prices. Those are asking prices, not what buyers paid, and not a UK price index. Prices vary by mileage, region and trim, so compare several adverts of the same year and mileage band before negotiating.
What is the road tax (VED) on a Audi A3 in the UK?
Annual road tax (VED): £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
What real-world fuel economy does a Audi A3 achieve on UK roads?
Typical real-world consumption: 1.0 TFSI: 47–53 mpg. 1.4/1.5 TFSI: 42–48 mpg. 2.0 TDI: 52–60 mpg.
How does a Audi A3 compare to its rivals?
Strong alternatives in the UK: Volkswagen Golf, BMW 1 Series, Mercedes A-Class, SEAT Leon, Volvo V40. Choose based on dealer network in your area, parts availability, and your priorities (running cost vs. cabin quality vs. badge).
Who is the Audi A3 most suitable for?
Buyers wanting Golf-level engineering with a more premium interior and stronger resale values. A 2016+ facelift car with the revised infotainment and a documented cambelt history is the safer buy.
Who should NOT buy a Audi A3?
Anyone considering a pre-2016 1.4 TFSI or 2.0 TDI without a documented cambelt change — both engines drive their camshafts by a toothed belt, and a failed belt is the single most expensive fault on the car.
Is the S tronic (DSG) dry-clutch gearbox on the Audi A3 a serious problem?
Owner-reported, frequency unknown: S tronic (DSG) dry-clutch gearbox comes up in owner forums and workshop reports for the Audi A3, but how often it happens is not known, so treat it as a question to ask rather than a fault every car has. Symptoms: Hesitant or jerky pulling away from a stop, a shudder felt through the car at low speed, delayed gear engagement, an occasional flashing PRNDS display, and in worse cases a gearbox fault warning with the car defaulting to limp mode. Years affected: 2013–2020, most reported on 1.4 TFSI petrol and lower-power diesel models fitted with the 7-speed DQ200 dry-clutch unit. Problems most commonly emerge from around 40,000–60,000 miles onward, a dry-clutch box for which VW Group schedules no oil service. Indicative repair cost in the UK: Roughly £800–£1,500 for a specialist mechatronic unit repair or reconditioning; a full replacement unit from a main dealer can run to £2,000 or more. What to check before buying: On the test drive, pull away from rest several times both cold and warm and feel for hesitation or shudder; VW Group schedules no gearbox oil service for the dry-clutch DQ200, so absent DSG fluid records are normal rather than a red flag (a wet-clutch S tronic, as on the 2.0 TDI quattro, does have a scheduled oil service, so check which box the car has); ask a garage to scan for stored gearbox fault codes.
Is the 2.0 TDI cambelt (timing belt) on the Audi A3 a serious problem?
Owner-reported, frequency unknown: 2.0 TDI cambelt (timing belt) comes up in owner forums and workshop reports for the Audi A3, but how often it happens is not known, so treat it as a question to ask rather than a fault every car has. Symptoms: No warning symptoms beforehand — if the belt snaps the pistons strike the valves and the engine is destroyed. Years affected: 2013–2020 2.0 TDI diesel models. Manufacturer interval is up to around 100,000 miles or 5 years, though many independent specialists recommend renewing by 75,000 miles for peace of mind on a used example. Indicative repair cost in the UK: Roughly £400–£900 for a routine belt, tensioner and water pump replacement at an independent specialist; a neglected belt that snaps typically means an engine rebuild or replacement costing several thousand pounds. What to check before buying: Get documented proof of cambelt replacement, including date and mileage, from the service history; if there is no evidence and the car is anywhere near the interval, budget for immediate replacement or negotiate the price down accordingly.
Is the 2.0 TDI EGR valve and cooler on the Audi A3 a serious problem?
Owner-reported, frequency unknown: 2.0 TDI EGR valve and cooler comes up in owner forums and workshop reports for the Audi A3, but how often it happens is not known, so treat it as a question to ask rather than a fault every car has. Symptoms: Rough idle, hesitant throttle response, an illuminated engine management light, and in more serious cases the EGR cooler leaking coolant internally. Years affected: 2.0 TDI diesel models across the 8V range, more common on cars used mainly for short urban journeys. Commonly reported from around 60,000–90,000 miles onward. Indicative repair cost in the UK: Roughly £250–£500 for an EGR valve clean or replacement; around £500–£900 if the EGR cooler itself needs replacing. What to check before buying: Ask about any history of engine warning lights or limp mode; check coolant for contamination and ask whether the EGR system has recently been cleaned or replaced.
Check these next
The guide above is about the Audi A3 as a model. These are about the car in front of you.
- Browse Audi A3 listings on AutozaEvery one listed now.
- Check any car by its registrationFree: its MOT history, tax status and any open recall, from a number plate.
- Work out the road tax for the A3Vehicle tax (VED) by registration date, CO2 and list price.
- Work out the monthly payment on a £8,999 A3The median asking price on Autoza on 16 October 2026, not what buyers pay: change it to the car you are looking at.
- What is your A3 worth?A price range from dealers' asking prices for comparable cars.
Looking to buy a Audi A3 in the UK?
Search Autoza listings filtered by year, mileage, and region. Every dealer page shows the business name, address and contact details, so you can check the business before you enquire.