1994 Audi 80 — MOT failures & pass rate
1,760 MOT tests on the 1994 Audi 80 are in this dataset, and 73.1% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 23.9% of the time, so this is 3.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests against 10.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, pins and bushes and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 143 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 28.7% versus 18.1%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 26.4% of the time against 27.8% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.7% in 2021 to 26.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 251 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 189 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.6% | 187 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 165 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.9% | 139 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 103 |
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 | 143 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 98 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 91 |
| 4 | Joints | 89 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 84 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 69 |
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 | 40.7% | 717 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.2% | 566 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.4% | 376 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.7% | 294 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.2% | 285 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.0% | 264 |
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 | 72 | 18.1% |
| 60-90k | 249 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 299 | 26.4% |
| 120-150k | 342 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 788 | 28.7% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,127 | 26.4% |
| Diesel | 633 | 27.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 457 | 31.7% |
| 2022 | 401 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 341 | 24.9% |
| 2024 | 300 | 23.7% |
| 2025 | 261 | 26.1% |
What to check before buying a 1994 80
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.7% 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 (10.6% 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 1994 Audi 80s pass their MOT?
73.1% of the 1,760 1994 Audi 80 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Audi 80?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by brakes (10.7%).
Does the 1994 80 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.1% in the 30-60k band to 28.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,760 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.