2011 Audi A1 — MOT failures & pass rate
103,588 MOT tests on the 2011 Audi A1 are in this dataset, and 77.5% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (24.0% fail rate), the 2011 A1 comes out 1.5pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 11.6% of all tests — 3.2 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 5,224 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.8% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.9pp more often than petrol ones (24.1% vs 21.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.6% | 11,999 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 8,638 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.3% | 6,534 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.3% | 5,526 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 3,603 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.2% | 3,280 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 5,224 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 4,969 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 4,197 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 3,220 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 3,209 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 2,167 |
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 | 28.2% | 29,254 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.6% | 26,565 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.6% | 24,471 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.6% | 8,900 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 5,911 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 5,161 |
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 | 2,043 | 10.3% |
| 30-60k | 15,596 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 36,572 | 21.8% |
| 90-120k | 32,890 | 24.7% |
| 120-150k | 12,964 | 26.1% |
| 150k+ | 3,477 | 26.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 60,172 | 21.3% |
| Diesel | 43,416 | 24.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,823 | 20.6% |
| 2022 | 20,935 | 21.4% |
| 2023 | 20,991 | 22.9% |
| 2024 | 20,710 | 23.5% |
| 2025 | 20,129 | 23.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 A1
On a 2011 A1, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (11.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.3% 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 2011 Audi A1s pass their MOT?
77.5% of the 103,588 2011 Audi A1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Audi A1?
Suspension, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.3%).
Does the 2011 A1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 0-30k band to 26.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 103,588 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.