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CarsAudi A4

MOT results · tests in 2025 · Great Britain

Audi A4 reliability: what the MOT shows

230,864 A4s had an MOT in 2025. 73.6% passed first time, against 67.5% for other cars of the same age and mileage. That is 6.1 points better than comparable cars. Those registered from 2022 onwards pass as often as other cars their age.

73.6%passed first time

+6.1points against cars of the same age and mileage

230,864MOTs in 2025

Report card

Audi A4 MOT results by registration year

Each dot compares how often A4s of that year failed on one area of the test with cars of the same age and mileage.

Much betterBetterAbout the sameWorseMuch worse

Year	Passed first time	Against same age and mileage	MOTs
2005	62.1%	+6.6	5,680
2006	62.9%	+8.0	10,426
2007	64.1%	+8.7	12,415
2008	62.8%	+7.9	13,087
2009	64.9%	+9.6	11,447
2010	65.9%	+9.3	12,052
2011	68.6%	+10.0	13,129
2012	70.9%	+10.4	12,874
2013	72.5%	+9.5	15,555
2014	72.7%	+6.9	16,511
2015	73.7%	+4.6	16,062
2016	78.5%	+6.1	21,683
2017	78.9%	+2.9	21,023
2018	79.9%	+0.5	13,518
2019	83.7%	+1.6	13,109
2020	87.5%	+2.6	8,442
2021	87.7%	+1.5	7,139
2022	87.7%	−0.0	6,712

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 A4 years to avoid, going by the MOT

Ahead2005 to 2017+2.9 to +10.4 ptsMost common failures: headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect) in 2005; joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2013; coil spring (fractured or broken) in 2010, 2011, 2016 and 2017; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm in 2012, 2014 and 2015. 181,944 MOTs.

Level2018+0.5 ptsMost common failure: coil spring (fractured or broken). 13,518 MOTs.

Ahead2019 to 2021+1.5 to +2.6 ptsMost common failures: coil spring (fractured or broken) in 2019; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm in 2020; condition (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords) in 2021. 28,690 MOTs.

Level2022−0.0 ptsMost common failure: condition (has ply or cords exposed). 6,712 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 A4 common faults at the MOT

7.6% of A4 MOTs failed on tyres, against 7.2% for cars of the same age and mileage, and 4.2% on body and structure, against 4.3%.

Most common failures

Coil spring: fractured or broken4.3%Cars of the same age and mileage: 3.0%

Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.1%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.8%

Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.0%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.9%

Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.1%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.6%

Condition: has ply or cords exposed1.7%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.6%

Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.6%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%

Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.5%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.1%

A4Same age and mileage

Fails more often than other cars

Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated4.5×0.32% of A4 MOTs (730) against 0.07% for cars of the same age and mileage

Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.4×0.50% of A4 MOTs (1,153) against 0.11% for cars of the same age and mileage

Headlamp levelling device: inoperative2.0×0.34% of A4 MOTs (790) against 0.17% for cars of the same age and mileage

Condition: buckle not functioning as intended1.8×0.24% of A4 MOTs (542) against 0.13% for cars of the same age and mileage

Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.6×2.98% of A4 MOTs (6,871) against 1.89% for cars of the same age and mileage

Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.5×1.31% of A4 MOTs (3,016) against 0.86% for cars of the same age and mileage

Mileage

Pulls ahead after 30,000 miles

Up to 30,000 miles, A4s pass as often as cars of the same age and mileage. Ahead from there: 30–60,000 miles 2.6 points, 60–90,000 miles 6.2 points, 90–120,000 miles 8.0 points, 120,000+ miles 7.3 points.

A4, first-time pass rateCars of the same age and mileage

Petrol, diesel or hybrid A4

Diesels passed 70.8% first time, 6.4 points above comparable cars; petrols passed 78.8%, 5.6 points above comparable cars. Diesels had a median of 116,702 miles at the test, against 65,739 for petrols.

Fuel	MOTs	Passed first time	Same age and mileage	Gap (pts)	Median miles
Diesel	151,292	70.8%	64.5%	+6.4	116,702
Petrol	79,456	78.8%	73.2%	+5.6	65,739

Against rivals

A4 against other executive cars

Cars registered 2014 to 2021, each against cars of the same age and mileage. The A4 ranks 9 of 11.

Model	MOTs	Passed first time	Same age and mileage	Gap (pts)
1. BMW 5 Series	111,912	85.1%	75.4%	+9.7
2. BMW 3 Series	220,543	83.4%	76.2%	+7.2
3. VW Passat	86,106	79.6%	73.1%	+6.5
4. Jaguar XF	47,799	80.2%	74.1%	+6.1
5. Mercedes E-Class	140,596	81.9%	75.8%	+6.0
6. Mercedes C-Class	204,560	81.2%	76.0%	+5.2
7. Skoda Superb	49,005	80.1%	76.0%	+4.2
8. Jaguar XE	42,769	81.0%	77.2%	+3.8
9. Audi A4	117,487	79.1%	75.3%	+3.8
10. Tesla Model 3	67,557	84.1%	84.4%	−0.3
11. Vauxhall Insignia	110,320	70.7%	72.0%	−1.4

Check these before you buy a used A4

What testers most often noted as advisories on A4s in 2025: wear that passed but was close to failing. Figures in brackets are for cars of the same age and mileage.

Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge19% (18%)
Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement14% (7%)
Brake pads: wearing thin8% (8%)
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened8% (10%)
Condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing5% (8%)
Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil5% (4%)
Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened4% (4%)
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive4% (7%)

Questions about A4 reliability

Is the Audi A4 reliable?

At the MOT, 73.6% of 230,864 A4 MOTs in 2025 passed first time, against 67.5% for cars of the same age and mileage. 2005 to 2017: ahead (+2.9 to +10.4 points). 2018: level (+0.5 points). 2019 to 2021: ahead (+1.5 to +2.6 points). 2022: level (−0.0 points).

Which Audi A4 years should I avoid?

None stand out: every registration year is within 1.5 points of cars of the same age and mileage, or ahead of them.

What is the most common MOT failure on a A4?

Coil spring: fractured or broken: 4.3% of A4 MOTs, against 3.0% for cars of the same age and mileage.

Is a diesel or petrol A4 more reliable?

Petrol A4s passed 78.8% first time and diesels 70.8%. Against cars of the same age and mileage, petrols were 5.6 points above and diesels 6.4 points above.

Is the A4 more reliable than the BMW 3 Series?

For cars registered 2014 to 2021, the BMW 3 Series passed 83.4% first time, +7.2 points against comparable cars. The A4 passed 79.1%, +3.8 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 A4's mix of ages and mileages.

Model. Every car DVSA records as a Audi A4: 102 recorded model names, from "A4" to trims such as "A4 S LN BLK ED 35 TFSI MHEV SA".

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