Audi A4 Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Audi A4 passes its MOT first time on 72.1% of tests, 7.5 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (64.7%). That puts it ahead of 81% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2012 A4 does best (beats 91% of cars) and the 2003 worst (beats 69%).

Of its engines, the 3.0 Diesel does best (beats 94%) and the 1.9 Diesel worst (beats 67%).

Better than average on lights & electrics, suspension, brakes.

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Audi A4Typical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 49%

Beats 48%

Beats 55%

Beats 58%

Beats 59%

Beats 62%

Beats 66%

Beats 69%

Beats 72%

Beats 76%

Beats 80%

Beats 80%

Beats 80%

Beats 87%

Beats 90%

Beats 90%

Beats 91%

Beats 90%

Beats 85%

Beats 79%

Beats 84%

Beats 80%

Beats 72%

Beats 73%

Beats 77%

Beats 69%

Beats 67%

Beats 44%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	2004–2022	1,337,695	72.9%	Beats 82%	A
2.0 Petrol	2001–2023	286,337	76.0%	Beats 82%	A
1.9 Diesel	1996–2008	176,518	56.7%	Beats 67%	B
1.8 Petrol	1996–2015	175,953	66.2%	Beats 76%	B
1.4 Petrol	2016–2018	103,928	84.2%	Beats 75%	B
3.0 Diesel	2005–2018	78,022	75.7%	Beats 94%	A
3.0 Petrol	2002–2018	59,311	78.6%	Beats 92%	A
4.2 Petrol	2003–2015	35,447	79.8%	Beats 99%	A
2.5 Diesel	2001–2006	22,995	57.2%	Beats 69%	B
2.4 Petrol	2000–2005	17,040	59.1%	Beats 69%	B
2.7 Diesel	2006–2010	12,367	67.6%	Beats 88%	A
3.1 Petrol	2006–2007	4,675	65.4%	Beats 82%	A
2.9 Petrol	2018–2019	4,602	88.4%	Beats 88%	A
2.7 Petrol	1999–2000	2,486	74.3%	Beats 98%	A
3.2 Petrol	2006–2008	2,408	66.9%	Beats 84%	A

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Tyres: 7.8% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics

10.0% vs 15.9%

Suspension

9.0% vs 12.4%

Tyres

7.8% vs 7.6%

Brakes

5.9% vs 9.5%

Body & structure

3.6% vs 4.9%

Emissions & leaks

3.4% vs 4.4%

Visibility

3.2% vs 5.8%

Seat belts & airbags

1.3% vs 1.6%

Steering

1.1% vs 2.7%

Wheels

0.5% vs 0.5%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Headlight aim
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
Tyre damage & cracking
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
Tyre tread depth
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
Coil springs
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
Brake pads
Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.
Headlight bulbs & units
Check dipped and main beam on both sides.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Audi A4Typical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Headlight aim	4.3%	4.3%	1.0×
Tyre damage & cracking	4.3%	3.9%	1.1×
Tyre tread depth	3.4%	3.4%	1.0×
Coil springs	3.0%	2.9%	1.0×
Drive shaft (CV) joints	2.2%	1.9%	1.2×
Brake pads	1.9%	2.4%	0.8×
Headlight bulbs & units	1.6%	2.9%	0.6×
Suspension arm bushes	1.5%	1.6%	1.0×
Shock absorbers	1.4%	1.4%	1.0×
Sidelights	1.4%	4.1%	0.3×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	42.9
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	34.4
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	32.1
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened	31.0
A tyre seriously damaged	24.7
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	23.0
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction	20.2
A tyre cords visible or damaged	16.8

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2023 Audi A41 engine86.7% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	2,895	86.7%	Beats 44%	C

2022 Audi A42 engines88.3% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	8,770	88.7%	Beats 66%	B
2.0 Diesel	2,645	86.8%	Beats 69%	B

2021 Audi A42 engines87.3% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	11,012	88.1%	Beats 68%	B
2.0 Diesel	8,850	86.4%	Beats 71%	B

2020 Audi A42 engines87.5% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	19,185	87.9%	Beats 72%	B
2.0 Diesel	13,362	87.0%	Beats 81%	A

2019 Audi A43 engines85.8% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	40,611	86.1%	Beats 68%	B
2.0 Diesel	22,585	85.0%	Beats 79%	B
2.9 Petrol	1,215	88.1%	Beats 79%	B

2018 Audi A46 engines84.6% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	32,920	83.6%	Beats 58%	C
2.0 Diesel	23,344	83.3%	Beats 77%	B
2.0 Petrol	12,912	86.3%	Beats 81%	A
3.0 Petrol	8,348	87.3%	Beats 85%	A
2.9 Petrol	3,387	88.5%	Beats 91%	A
3.0 Diesel	1,266	88.7%	Beats 97%	A

2017 Audi A45 engines83.9% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	74,447	82.5%	Beats 78%	B
1.4 Petrol	35,080	84.2%	Beats 72%	B
2.0 Petrol	17,827	86.4%	Beats 88%	A
3.0 Petrol	13,870	86.4%	Beats 88%	A
3.0 Diesel	6,452	86.2%	Beats 95%	A

2016 Audi A44 engines82.8% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	111,984	81.3%	Beats 80%	B
1.4 Petrol	35,928	84.7%	Beats 88%	A
2.0 Petrol	17,534	86.2%	Beats 93%	A
3.0 Diesel	11,005	85.5%	Beats 95%	A

2015 Audi A46 engines79.9% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	128,689	78.9%	Beats 75%	B
1.8 Petrol	8,114	82.6%	Beats 81%	A
4.2 Petrol	3,797	88.0%	Beats 98%	A
3.0 Petrol	3,549	88.3%	Beats 99%	A
3.0 Diesel	3,377	85.5%	Beats 98%	A
2.0 Petrol	2,679	86.8%	Beats 97%	A

2014 Audi A46 engines78.3% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	128,280	77.2%	Beats 81%	A
1.8 Petrol	9,378	81.8%	Beats 89%	A
4.2 Petrol	5,289	86.0%	Beats 98%	A
3.0 Diesel	4,069	85.6%	Beats 99%	A
2.0 Petrol	3,545	84.8%	Beats 98%	A
3.0 Petrol	2,866	86.9%	Beats 99%	A

2013 Audi A46 engines77.1% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	120,703	76.1%	Beats 87%	A
1.8 Petrol	11,376	79.5%	Beats 91%	A
2.0 Petrol	4,290	84.1%	Beats 99%	A
3.0 Diesel	3,163	81.9%	Beats 98%	A
3.0 Petrol	2,896	86.4%	Beats 100%	A
4.2 Petrol	2,833	85.9%	Beats 99%	A

2012 Audi A45 engines75.1% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	101,639	74.0%	Beats 89%	A
1.8 Petrol	7,640	78.4%	Beats 94%	A
2.0 Petrol	5,866	81.3%	Beats 98%	A
3.0 Diesel	4,779	80.2%	Beats 98%	A
3.0 Petrol	2,719	84.4%	Beats 99%	A

2011 Audi A45 engines72.6% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	102,950	71.6%	Beats 88%	A
2.0 Petrol	9,248	78.1%	Beats 97%	A
1.8 Petrol	5,379	73.0%	Beats 84%	A
3.0 Diesel	4,490	78.1%	Beats 98%	A
3.0 Petrol	2,726	82.0%	Beats 99%	A

2010 Audi A46 engines70.6% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	94,572	69.3%	Beats 87%	A
1.8 Petrol	9,011	73.7%	Beats 93%	A
2.0 Petrol	7,585	74.8%	Beats 96%	A
3.0 Diesel	4,028	76.0%	Beats 98%	A
3.0 Petrol	3,469	80.9%	Beats 99%	A
2.7 Diesel	1,023	71.3%	Beats 91%	A

2009 Audi A46 engines68.2% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	93,608	67.1%	Beats 85%	A
1.8 Petrol	10,025	69.9%	Beats 88%	A
2.0 Petrol	9,370	71.9%	Beats 94%	A
3.0 Diesel	5,895	72.0%	Beats 95%	A
2.7 Diesel	2,281	69.3%	Beats 90%	A
3.0 Petrol	2,079	78.8%	Beats 99%	A

2008 Audi A47 engines64.9% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	105,056	63.9%	Beats 79%	B
1.8 Petrol	18,441	66.6%	Beats 82%	A
2.0 Petrol	14,355	67.4%	Beats 83%	A
3.0 Diesel	7,890	68.9%	Beats 91%	A
1.9 Diesel	5,448	60.9%	Beats 70%	B
2.7 Diesel	5,409	70.1%	Beats 93%	A
3.2 Petrol	1,211	69.0%	Beats 87%	A

2007 Audi A48 engines64.0% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	92,258	63.1%	Beats 79%	B
2.0 Petrol	28,656	63.8%	Beats 77%	B
1.9 Diesel	15,871	62.0%	Beats 76%	B
1.8 Petrol	10,792	62.7%	Beats 71%	B
4.2 Petrol	7,955	80.4%	Beats 100%	A
3.0 Diesel	7,267	65.3%	Beats 83%	A
2.7 Diesel	2,439	61.2%	Beats 73%	B
3.1 Petrol	1,630	62.8%	Beats 72%	B

2006 Audi A410 engines62.8% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	70,548	60.8%	Beats 75%	B
2.0 Petrol	32,870	63.6%	Beats 80%	A
1.8 Petrol	12,978	63.0%	Beats 78%	B
1.9 Diesel	12,568	59.5%	Beats 72%	B
3.0 Diesel	9,496	64.9%	Beats 86%	A
4.2 Petrol	8,001	78.8%	Beats 99%	A
3.1 Petrol	3,045	66.8%	Beats 87%	A
2.7 Diesel	1,215	63.1%	Beats 82%	A
3.2 Petrol	1,197	64.8%	Beats 81%	A
2.5 Diesel	1,058	57.3%	Beats 65%	B

2005 Audi A49 engines60.5% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	40,954	59.6%	Beats 75%	B
1.8 Petrol	17,679	60.3%	Beats 71%	B
2.0 Petrol	16,311	62.2%	Beats 80%	B
1.9 Diesel	14,734	59.3%	Beats 75%	B
2.5 Diesel	5,886	59.5%	Beats 73%	B
3.0 Diesel	4,845	62.7%	Beats 83%	A
3.0 Petrol	3,111	60.2%	Beats 70%	B
2.4 Petrol	2,395	59.7%	Beats 66%	B
4.2 Petrol	2,377	72.0%	Beats 97%	A

2004 Audi A48 engines58.3% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	47,131	56.7%	Beats 69%	B
1.8 Petrol	23,542	59.4%	Beats 74%	B
2.5 Diesel	7,272	56.4%	Beats 68%	B
2.0 Petrol	5,291	59.3%	Beats 73%	B
3.0 Petrol	5,172	61.0%	Beats 74%	B
2.4 Petrol	4,068	59.7%	Beats 70%	B
4.2 Petrol	3,933	67.7%	Beats 92%	A
2.0 Diesel	1,221	59.8%	Beats 79%	B

2003 Audi A47 engines56.9% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	34,598	55.1%	Beats 66%	B
1.8 Petrol	10,166	58.2%	Beats 71%	B
2.0 Petrol	6,595	56.8%	Beats 67%	B
2.4 Petrol	5,903	59.0%	Beats 70%	B
3.0 Petrol	5,269	61.3%	Beats 77%	B
2.5 Diesel	5,094	56.3%	Beats 68%	B
4.2 Petrol	1,262	70.7%	Beats 97%	A

2002 Audi A46 engines55.6% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	23,206	53.7%	Beats 63%	B
2.0 Petrol	5,096	57.5%	Beats 68%	B
2.4 Petrol	3,532	59.0%	Beats 70%	B
3.0 Petrol	3,237	60.5%	Beats 75%	B
1.8 Petrol	3,183	57.2%	Beats 70%	B
2.5 Diesel	2,599	56.0%	Beats 68%	B

2001 Audi A44 engines54.4% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	8,389	54.3%	Beats 63%	B
2.0 Petrol	3,834	53.8%	Beats 56%	C
1.8 Petrol	2,894	54.6%	Beats 60%	B
2.5 Diesel	1,086	56.1%	Beats 68%	B

2000 Audi A44 engines55.1% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Petrol	6,088	52.0%	Beats 45%	C
1.9 Diesel	4,980	53.7%	Beats 59%	C
2.7 Petrol	1,234	74.5%	Beats 98%	A
2.4 Petrol	1,142	56.3%	Beats 58%	C

1999 Audi A43 engines55.7% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Petrol	4,162	53.0%	Beats 44%	C
1.9 Diesel	3,793	52.7%	Beats 53%	C
2.7 Petrol	1,252	74.1%	Beats 98%	A

1998 Audi A42 engines56.1% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	2,880	56.5%	Beats 60%	B
1.8 Petrol	2,317	55.6%	Beats 47%	C

1997 Audi A42 engines55.9% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	1,843	56.3%	Beats 55%	C
1.8 Petrol	1,618	55.4%	Beats 41%	C

1996 Audi A42 engines57.3% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Petrol	1,170	58.7%	Beats 48%	C
1.9 Diesel	1,077	55.7%	Beats 49%	C

FAQ

What is the Audi A4 MOT pass rate?

72.1% of MOT tests on the Audi A4 were passed first time, based on 2,319,784 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 1996–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 64.7% of the time.

Is the Audi A4 reliable?

On MOT results it rates A (excellent): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 81% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Audi A4 year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2012 A4 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 91% of cars on UK roads. The 2003 does worst: it beats 69%.

Which Audi A4 engine is best?

Across all years, the 3.0 Diesel does best: it beats 94% of cars on UK roads. The 1.9 Diesel does worst: it beats 67%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Audi A4?

The most common failure items are headlight aim, tyre damage & cracking, tyre tread depth.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Audi A4 reliability

Verdict

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ