Audi common problems and MOT failures

From 3,122,322 MOT tests in 2024, 13.2% of Audi vehicles failed. Below are the most common reasons, ranked by how often they occur.

Top Audi MOT failure reasons

#	Problem	Occurrences	% of failures
1	tyre tread depth outside legal limits	66,919	16.2%
2	suspension pin, bush or joint worn	62,473	15.1%
3	tyre seriously damaged	58,045	14.0%
4	spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened	48,805	11.8%
5	tyre cords visible or damaged	33,682	8.1%
6	the aim of a headlamp is not within limits the requirements	31,560	7.6%
7	transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	31,008	7.5%
8	brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm	30,743	7.4%
9	suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	28,431	6.9%
10	engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction	22,438	5.4%

What this means if you're buying a Audi

The single most common MOT failure for Audi is tyre tread depth outside legal limits, accounting for 16% of all failure items. A set of new tyres typically costs £200–£500 depending on size.

These figures are from real MOT inspections — they show what testers actually find wrong with Audi vehicles. If you're viewing a used Audi, it's worth checking these areas specifically.

Audi models by MOT pass rate

Lowest pass rates first — these models have the most testable issues.

Model	Tests	Pass rate
A2	9,700	72.6%
A4	409,974	83%
A3	632,300	84.3%
A1	389,982	85.2%
Tt	228,910	85.9%
A5	225,567	86.9%
A6	208,181	86.9%
Q3	197,641	87.8%
Q7	96,526	88.7%
Q5	206,255	89.4%
A7	32,108	90.6%
A8	16,722	91.8%
A3 S Line 35 Tfsi Mhev S-A	9,699	93.6%
Q2	128,767	93.8%
R8	11,652	95.3%

Buying a specific Audi? Check the individual vehicle's MOT history for free on GOV.UK to see its actual test results, advisories, and mileage readings.

Check MOT history on GOV.UK