1993 Audi 80 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1993 Audi 80 passed 71.9% of its 849 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (23.4% fail rate), the 1993 80 comes out 4.7pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.4%) and brakes (13.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 82 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 33.0% versus 16.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 44.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.3% in 2021 to 24.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 131 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.7% | 116 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.8% | 109 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 81 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 74 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.7% | 57 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 82 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 69 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 68 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 51 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 48 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 44 |
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 | 44.4% | 377 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.4% | 292 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.8% | 177 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.0% | 153 |
| 5 | Other defects | 18.0% | 153 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.6% | 124 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 42 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 109 | 22.0% |
| 90-120k | 181 | 27.6% |
| 120-150k | 187 | 26.2% |
| 150k+ | 324 | 33.0% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 547 | 28.7% |
| Diesel | 302 | 27.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 205 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 196 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 174 | 27.0% |
| 2024 | 147 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 127 | 24.4% |
What to check before buying a 1993 80
On a 1993 80, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.7% 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.
- Suspension (12.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1993 Audi 80s pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 849 1993 Audi 80 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Audi 80?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by brakes (13.7%).
Does the 1993 80 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 30-60k band to 33.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 849 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.