MOT performance

Audi A4 MOT pass rate and common failures

Across 527,452 MOT tests of the Audi A4 in 2023–2024, 72.8% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Audi A4s failed 19% less often than comparable cars. The most common failure item was “coil spring: fractured or broken”, on 3.55% of tests.

527,452 MOT tests on 277,691 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto

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At a glance

Audi A4 MOT results at a glance
Figure	Value	Basis
First-time pass rate	72.8%	±0.1 pts (95%), n = 527,452
Failures vs similar cars	0.81×	same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00
Tests with a dangerous defect	8.4%	n = 527,452
Average age at test	10.8 years	n = 527,452
Median mileage at test	98,389 miles	n = 527,452
Vehicles tested	277,691	2023–2024

Where Audi A4s fail

The share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. Areas where the difference is large and clear link to their own page.

Audi A4 MOT failures by area
Area	Tests failed on it	vs similar cars
Suspension	9.0%	-24%
Lights, reflectors and electrical	8.8%	-38%
Tyres	7.8%	+6%
Brakes	5.4%	-40%
Body, chassis and structure	4.1%	-17%
Noise, emissions and leaks	3.4%	-16%
Driver's view of the road	3.2%	-40%
Steering	1.3%	-53%
Seat belts and airbags	1.1%	-26%
Road wheels	0.5%	-6%
Registration plates and VIN	0.4%	-4%
Speedometer and driving controls	0.0%	-96%

Audi A4 MOT pass rate by fuel: diesel vs petrol

Raw pass rates partly reflect how old each fuel's cars are; the adjusted column compares each with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. Fuels that differ materially from the model as a whole have their own page.

Audi A4 MOT results by fuel
Fuel	Tests	Average age	First-time pass	vs similar cars
Diesel	354,289	11.1 yrs	70.6%	-17%
Petrol	173,136	10.2 yrs	77.1%	-25%

Audi A4 MOT pass rate by generation

Generations by first-registration date against 73 Auto's catalogue (cars registered within three months of a changeover left out).

Audi A4 MOT results by generation
Generation	Tests	Average age	First-time pass	vs similar cars
B8 (2008–2015)	223,112	11.4 yrs	70.7%	-23%
B9 (2015–2025)	167,755	5.1 yrs	83.5%	-18%

Most common failure items

Most common Audi A4 MOT failure items
Item	Area	Share of tests
Coil spring: fractured or broken	Suspension	3.55%
Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	3.30%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt	Body, chassis and structure	2.68%
Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	1.86%
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect	Lights, reflectors and electrical	1.85%
Condition: has ply or cords exposed	Tyres	1.69%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick	Brakes	1.61%
Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords	Tyres	1.51%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively	Driver's view of the road	1.40%
Headlamp aim: too low	Lights, reflectors and electrical	1.40%

Most common advisories

Advisories are items the tester expects to need attention soon; they don't fail the test.

Most common Audi A4 MOT advisories
Item	Area	Share of tests
Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	18.71%
Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	12.17%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick	Brakes	8.30%
Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	Brakes	8.08%
Condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure	Tyres	5.37%

Pass rate by age

Audi A4 MOT pass rate by age at test
Age at test (years)	Tests	First-time pass rate	Failures vs similar cars
3-4	44,575	87.3%	-19%
5-6	70,652	82.6%	-16%
7-8	75,045	78.0%	-18%
9-10	65,001	74.2%	-23%
11-12	56,139	71.0%	-26%
13-15	87,597	65.6%	-21%
16+	115,194	61.4%	-15%

Pass rate by registration year

Audi A4 MOT pass rate by registration year
Registered	Tests	First-time pass rate	Failures vs similar cars
2021	7,908	87.8%	0.82×
2020	18,999	88.5%	0.78×
2019	27,467	86.7%	0.82×
2018	27,450	84.4%	0.83×
2017	42,762	82.1%	0.82×
2016	44,494	79.2%	0.83×
2015	33,098	76.5%	0.83×
2014	34,172	74.6%	0.80×
2013	32,504	73.7%	0.75×
2012	27,477	72.4%	0.73×
2011	28,301	70.2%	0.74×
2010	27,190	67.9%	0.76×
2009	27,051	65.9%	0.78×
2008	32,667	63.4%	0.83×
2007	32,873	62.7%	0.83×
2006	28,669	61.9%	0.83×
2005	17,470	61.1%	0.85×
2004	15,044	59.6%	0.88×
2003	8,814	59.3%	0.90×
2002	4,643	58.7%	0.92×
2001	2,102	60.6%	0.90×
2000	2,149	62.2%	0.89×
1999	1,670	64.0%	0.89×
1998	1,087	67.4%	0.88×
1997	592	60.8%	1.10×
1996	394	66.2%	0.95×

Years with fewer tests are shown for completeness; only years with enough tests have their own page.

Compared with similar models

Check a specific Audi A4

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UK number plate or 17-character VIN

About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.