Audi 100 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 41 model years and 1,206 tests, the Audi 100 passes its MOT 77.4% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail at 22.4%, so the 100 sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.5%) and brakes (10.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are washers, catalyst emissions and service brake performance — washers alone was recorded 75 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.0% in the 0-30k band and 25.0% in the 150k+ band, a 5.0-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.9% in 2021 to 20.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 100 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 46 | 76.1% | 23.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 42 | 81.0% | 19.1% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1988 | 76 | 77.6% | 22.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 127 | 74.0% | 26.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 145 | 75.2% | 24.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 131 | 81.7% | 18.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 157 | 81.5% | 18.5% | Brakes |
| 1993 | 138 | 76.1% | 23.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 212 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Brakes |
| 2008 | 49 | 83.7% | 16.3% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 139 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.0% | 121 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.5% | 102 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 100 |
| 5 | Suspension | 7.0% | 85 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 68 |
| 7 | Tyres | 3.9% | 47 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.1% | 37 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 75 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 69 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 67 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 52 |
| 5 | Wipers | 48 |
| 6 | Joints | 41 |
| 7 | Rbt (sp) | 32 |
| 8 | Rear fog lamp | 31 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.4% | 391 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.2% | 376 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.3% | 257 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.7% | 238 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.3% | 209 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.5% | 163 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 30 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 79 | 17.7% |
| 60-90k | 139 | 20.9% |
| 90-120k | 244 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 212 | 21.2% |
| 150k+ | 500 | 25.0% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,080 | 22.9% |
| Diesel | 126 | 20.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 316 | 26.9% |
| 2022 | 272 | 22.4% |
| 2023 | 233 | 20.6% |
| 2024 | 192 | 20.3% |
| 2025 | 193 | 20.7% |
What to check before buying a Audi 100
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Visibility (8.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Audi 100?
77.4% of the 1,206 Audi 100 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 22.6% fail rate, across model years 1980–2020.
What does the Audi 100 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests, then brakes (10.0%).
How much does mileage affect 100 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 20.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 25.0% for 150k+, a 5.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,206 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.