2010 Audi A1 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Audi A1 passed 76.6% of its 9,118 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 25.1% of the time, so this is 1.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 12.7% of tests against 7.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and coil spring — pins and bushes alone was recorded 399 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2010 A1 fails 18.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 21.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.7 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.4% fail against 24.8% for diesel, a 2.3-point gap across 9,115 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.7% | 1,160 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 721 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.1% | 555 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.5% | 504 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 482 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 314 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 399 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 384 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 383 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 369 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 340 |
| 6 | Joints | 316 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 28.1% | 2,560 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.7% | 2,525 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.5% | 2,413 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 935 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.5% | 867 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 548 |
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 | 171 | 18.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,345 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 3,001 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 3,149 | 25.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,168 | 25.2% |
| 150k+ | 279 | 21.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,306 | 22.4% |
| Diesel | 3,809 | 24.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,883 | 22.7% |
| 2022 | 1,882 | 22.6% |
| 2023 | 1,833 | 23.2% |
| 2024 | 1,812 | 25.1% |
| 2025 | 1,708 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a 2010 A1
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 12.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (12.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2010 Audi A1s pass their MOT?
76.6% of the 9,118 2010 Audi A1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Audi A1?
Suspension, recorded in 12.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.9%).
Does the 2010 A1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.1% in the 0-30k band to 21.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,118 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.