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CarsAudi A1
MOT results · tests in 2025 · Great Britain

Audi A1 reliability: what the MOT shows

234,827 A1s had an MOT in 2025. 76.3% passed first time, against 75.7% for other cars of the same age and mileage. Those registered from 2022 onwards pass as often as other cars their age.

76.3%passed first time
+0.6points against cars of the same age and mileage
234,827MOTs in 2025
Report card

Audi A1 MOT results by registration year

Each dot compares how often A1s of that year failed on one area of the test with cars of the same age and mileage.

Much betterBetterAbout the sameWorseMuch worse
YearPassed first timeAgainst same age and mileageMOTsSuspensionSteeringBrakesTyresLights & electricsVisibilityBody & structureEmissions & leaks
201065.0%+6.21,341
201164.0%+3.315,694
201266.6%+3.318,174
201367.0%+1.222,145
201471.4%+2.222,842
201574.1%+1.623,472
201674.1%−1.725,390
201777.1%−2.322,857
201879.7%−2.419,892
201984.1%−0.220,502
202087.6%+0.813,340
202189.7%+1.514,116
202290.5%+0.915,060

Much worse: failed on that area at least 1.5 times as often. Worse: 1.15 to 1.5 times. Better: up to 0.87 times. Much better: two-thirds as often or less. Gaps under half a percentage point count as about the same. Registration year is the year the car was first used.

Audi A1 years to avoid, going by the MOT

Ahead2010 to 2012+3.3 to +6.2 ptsMost common failures: joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) in 2010; coil spring (fractured or broken) in 2011 and 2012. 35,209 MOTs.
Level2013+1.2 ptsMost common failure: coil spring (fractured or broken). 22,145 MOTs.
Ahead2014 to 2015+1.6 to +2.2 ptsMost common failures: coil spring (fractured or broken) in 2014; pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) in 2015. 46,314 MOTs.
Behind2016 to 2018−1.7 to −2.4 ptsMost common failure in every one of these years: pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn). 68,139 MOTs.
Level2019 to 2020−0.2 to +0.8 ptsMost common failures: track rod end (ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) in 2019; brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) in 2020. 33,842 MOTs.
Ahead2021+1.5 ptsMost common failure: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. 14,116 MOTs.
Level2022+0.9 ptsMost common failure: condition (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords). 15,060 MOTs.

Well behind: 5 or more points below cars of the same age and mileage. Behind: 1.5 to 5 points below. Level: within 1.5 points. Ahead: 1.5 or more points above.

What fails

Audi A1 common faults at the MOT

9.1% of A1 MOTs failed on suspension, against 7.2% for cars of the same age and mileage, and 7.0% on tyres, against 6.0%.

Most common failures

Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.4%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.0%
Coil spring: fractured or broken3.4%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.3%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.5%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.0%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.0%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.7%
Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.6%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.4%
Condition: has ply or cords exposed1.4%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.2%
Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.2%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.5%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.1%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.7%
A1Same age and mileage

Fails more often than other cars

Pins and bushes: pin or bush likely to become detached7.1×0.39% of A1 MOTs (908) against 0.06% for cars of the same age and mileage
Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.3×3.41% of A1 MOTs (8,003) against 1.04% for cars of the same age and mileage
Individual direction indicators: not working3.3×0.37% of A1 MOTs (867) against 0.11% for cars of the same age and mileage
Reversing lamps: inoperative2.9×0.44% of A1 MOTs (1,029) against 0.15% for cars of the same age and mileage
Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits2.9×0.22% of A1 MOTs (527) against 0.08% for cars of the same age and mileage
Ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.3×0.48% of A1 MOTs (1,130) against 0.21% for cars of the same age and mileage
Mileage

About level at every mileage

At every mileage, A1s pass within 2 points of cars of the same age and mileage.

First-time MOT pass rate by mileage: Audi A1 against cars of the same age and mileage0%25%50%75%100%9089UNDER 30K+0.7 pts818030–60K+0.1 pts717060–90K+1.0 pts646390–120K+1.0 pts6061120K+−0.3 pts
A1, first-time pass rateCars of the same age and mileage

Petrol, diesel or hybrid A1

Diesels passed 66.4% first time, 0.0 points below comparable cars; petrols passed 78.8%, 0.7 points above comparable cars. Diesels had a median of 92,116 miles at the test, against 49,300 for petrols.

FuelMOTsPassed first timeSame age and mileageGap (pts)Median miles
Petrol186,93778.8%78.1%+0.749,300
Diesel47,88866.4%66.4%−0.092,116
Against rivals

A1 against other small hatchbacks

Cars registered 2014 to 2021, each against cars of the same age and mileage. The A1 ranks 7 of 17.

ModelMOTsPassed first timeSame age and mileageGap (pts)
1. Honda Jazz136,22787.4%82.0%+5.4
2. MINI Cooper339,52785.3%80.8%+4.5
3. Toyota Yaris215,96482.4%80.7%+1.6
4. Hyundai i2077,31979.6%78.7%+0.9
5. Mazda 260,28480.6%79.8%+0.9
6. Suzuki Swift77,43880.6%80.1%+0.5
7. Audi A1162,41178.5%78.7%−0.2
8. Skoda Fabia118,92477.9%79.3%−1.3
9. VW Polo329,62176.0%79.1%−3.1
10. Ford Fiesta693,78873.2%78.2%−4.9
11. Citroen C395,14373.8%80.1%−6.2
12. Seat Ibiza113,18571.2%77.6%−6.4
13. Peugeot 208157,34971.7%78.8%−7.1
14. Nissan Micra81,54373.4%81.0%−7.6
15. Vauxhall Corsa477,34870.1%78.7%−8.6
16. Dacia Sandero97,35567.1%79.5%−12.4
17. Renault Clio148,25663.9%78.1%−14.2

Check these before you buy a used A1

What testers most often noted as advisories on A1s in 2025: wear that passed but was close to failing. Figures in brackets are for cars of the same age and mileage.

Questions about A1 reliability

Is the Audi A1 reliable?

At the MOT, 76.3% of 234,827 A1 MOTs in 2025 passed first time, against 75.7% for cars of the same age and mileage. 2010 to 2012: ahead (+3.3 to +6.2 points). 2013: level (+1.2 points). 2014 to 2015: ahead (+1.6 to +2.2 points). 2016 to 2018: behind (−1.7 to −2.4 points). 2019 to 2020: level (−0.2 to +0.8 points). 2021: ahead (+1.5 points). 2022: level (+0.9 points).

Which Audi A1 years should I avoid?

Going by 2025 MOT results, 2016 to 2018. Those cars passed first time −1.7 to −2.4 points against comparable cars.

What is the most common MOT failure on a A1?

Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn: 3.4% of A1 MOTs, against 1.0% for cars of the same age and mileage.

Is a diesel or petrol A1 more reliable?

Petrol A1s passed 78.8% first time and diesels 66.4%. Against cars of the same age and mileage, petrols were 0.7 points above and diesels 0.0 points below.

Is the A1 more reliable than the Ford Fiesta?

For cars registered 2014 to 2021, the Ford Fiesta passed 73.2% first time, −4.9 points against comparable cars. The A1 passed 78.5%, −0.2 points.

How we measure

Data. Every car MOT in Great Britain in 2025 (31,475,521 first tests on cars first used 2005 to 2022), from DVSA's anonymised MOT test data. Retests are left out.

Passed first time. A car passed if its first test that year ended in a pass. Cars that failed and were fixed within the hour count as fails, as DVSA counts them.

Same age and mileage. We group every car by the year it was first used and its mileage (under 30k, 30–60k, 60–90k, 90–120k, over 120k). The comparison figure is what those groups scored, weighted to match the A1's mix of ages and mileages.

Model. Every car DVSA records as a Audi A1: 46 recorded model names, from "A1" to trims such as "A1 TECHNIK 25 TFSI".

The full method, including how each report-card dot and year group is decided.