2009 Audi A3 diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2009 Audi A3 diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2009 Audi A3 diesel than on all cars registered in 2009.

• Drive shaft (CV) joints2.2× usual
  Audi A3

  10.7% All 2009 cars

  4.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 2.3% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

  At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

• Suspension arm bushes and joints1.6× usual
  Audi A3

  16.2% All 2009 cars

  10.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 2.2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

• Number plate lights1.5× usual
  Audi A3

  12.8% All 2009 cars

  8.3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 2.3% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

  At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

• Sub-frame1.7× usual
  Audi A3

  10.3% All 2009 cars

  5.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.4% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

  At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

• Link ball joint covers2.5× usual
  Audi A3

  7.2% All 2009 cars

  2.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 1.6% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Common 2009 Audi A3 diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2009 Audi A3 diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Suspension
  48% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Tyres
  37% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Brakes
  30% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Lights and electrics
  30% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Driveshafts and joints
  11% of testsRough price £60–£350

  At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  10% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Known faults on the 2009 Audi A3 diesel

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Fuel pipe leak (2.0 TDI)

  2.0 TDI diesel

  Common-rail 2.0 TDIs from 2008 to 2011 could leak fuel. Audi fitted weights to the fuel pipes.

  At the viewing: Sniff for diesel around the engine.

  Source: What Car?: common Audi A3 (2003-2012) problems

• DSG power loss (2008 to 2009)

  DSG automatic

  A faulty clutch temperature sensor in the DSG could cause a loss of power. Audi reprogrammed the gearboxes.

  At the viewing: Drive in traffic and accelerate from low speed.

  Source: What Car?: common Audi A3 (2003-2012) problems

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2009 Audi A3 diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Has the fuel pipe fix been done?
2. Has the gearbox been reprogrammed?
3. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2009 Audi A3 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 1.6× as often on the 2009 Audi A3 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
5. Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 1.5× as often on the 2009 Audi A3 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
6. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?