MOT performance

Audi A6 MOT pass rate and common failures

Across 256,000 MOT tests of the Audi A6 in 2023–2024, 79.0% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Audi A6s failed 34% less often than comparable cars. The most common failure item was “tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm”, on 2.90% of tests.

256,000 MOT tests on 133,733 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto

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At a glance

Audi A6 MOT results at a glance
Figure	Value	Basis
First-time pass rate	79.0%	±0.2 pts (95%), n = 256,000
Failures vs similar cars	0.66×	same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00
Tests with a dangerous defect	7.2%	n = 256,000
Average age at test	9.6 years	n = 256,000
Median mileage at test	97,367 miles	n = 256,000
Vehicles tested	133,733	2023–2024

Where Audi A6s 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 A6 MOT failures by area
Area	Tests failed on it	vs similar cars
Tyres	7.1%	-3%
Lights, reflectors and electrical	6.3%	-50%
Suspension	5.5%	-49%
Brakes	3.0%	-63%
Noise, emissions and leaks	2.7%	-21%
Driver's view of the road	2.5%	-49%
Body, chassis and structure	2.3%	-45%
Seat belts and airbags	1.1%	-15%
Steering	0.5%	-78%
Road wheels	0.5%	-13%
Registration plates and VIN	0.4%	+1%
Speedometer and driving controls	0.0%	-63%

Audi A6 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 A6 MOT results by fuel
Fuel	Tests	Average age	First-time pass	vs similar cars
Diesel	230,930	9.6 yrs	78.6%	-34%
Petrol	23,853	9.6 yrs	82.2%	-38%
Hybrid	1,214	2.9 yrs	92.6%	-42%

Audi A6 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 A6 MOT results by generation
Generation	Tests	Average age	First-time pass	vs similar cars
C7 (2011–2018)	142,338	8.4 yrs	82.1%	-40%
C8 (2018–2025)	35,137	3.5 yrs	89.8%	-38%

Most common failure items

Most common Audi A6 MOT failure items
Item	Area	Share of tests
Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	2.90%
Condition: has ply or cords exposed	Tyres	1.65%
Coil spring: fractured or broken	Suspension	1.55%
Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords	Tyres	1.47%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction	Noise, emissions and leaks	1.35%
Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	1.33%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick	Brakes	1.15%
Position lamp: not working	Lights, reflectors and electrical	1.13%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt	Body, chassis and structure	1.11%
Headlamp aim: too low	Lights, reflectors and electrical	0.94%

Most common advisories

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

Most common Audi A6 MOT advisories
Item	Area	Share of tests
Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	17.97%
Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	9.16%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick	Brakes	7.87%
Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	Brakes	6.27%
Condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure	Tyres	3.81%

Pass rate by age

Audi A6 MOT pass rate by age at test
Age at test (years)	Tests	First-time pass rate	Failures vs similar cars
3-4	26,802	89.8%	-38%
5-6	37,062	87.0%	-37%
7-8	46,604	83.9%	-40%
9-10	41,304	80.0%	-41%
11-12	31,438	75.6%	-37%
13-15	35,338	68.6%	-28%
16+	30,969	64.6%	-22%

Pass rate by registration year

Audi A6 MOT pass rate by registration year
Registered	Tests	First-time pass rate	Failures vs similar cars
2021	4,952	90.3%	0.67×
2020	7,641	90.8%	0.60×
2019	18,405	89.4%	0.61×
2018	16,621	88.0%	0.63×
2017	18,969	86.5%	0.62×
2016	26,793	84.8%	0.61×
2015	22,757	83.6%	0.57×
2014	21,644	80.2%	0.62×
2013	21,150	79.6%	0.58×
2012	16,523	78.0%	0.58×
2011	14,283	72.7%	0.68×
2010	13,795	70.1%	0.71×
2009	8,970	69.0%	0.71×
2008	12,329	66.3%	0.76×
2007	12,388	66.5%	0.74×
2006	7,428	64.7%	0.77×
2005	4,185	63.8%	0.79×
2004	2,461	62.0%	0.83×
2003	1,637	60.4%	0.87×
2002	980	58.3%	0.92×
2001	481	65.3%	0.78×
2000	504	62.9%	0.88×
1999	322	59.9%	0.98×

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 A6

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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.