2013 Audi A1 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 137,228 MOT tests, the 2013 Audi A1 recorded an 80.4% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 21.2% of the time, so this is 1.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.1%) and lighting & signalling (6.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — coil spring alone was recorded 7,685 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.7% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.5pp more often than petrol ones (21.6% vs 18.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.1% | 12,454 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 8,849 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.5% | 8,856 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.1% | 5,647 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 3,657 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 3,026 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 7,685 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 5,065 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 4,815 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 4,433 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 2,693 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 2,567 |
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 | 28.3% | 38,902 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.3% | 33,307 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.9% | 21,874 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.4% | 10,177 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 5,165 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.7% | 5,063 |
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 | 6,459 | 10.2% |
| 30-60k | 39,427 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 54,876 | 20.6% |
| 90-120k | 27,409 | 23.4% |
| 120-150k | 7,243 | 24.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,766 | 25.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 78,703 | 18.1% |
| Diesel | 58,519 | 21.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 26,811 | 16.7% |
| 2022 | 27,079 | 17.8% |
| 2023 | 27,463 | 19.9% |
| 2024 | 27,808 | 21.0% |
| 2025 | 28,067 | 22.4% |
What to check before buying a 2013 A1
On a 2013 A1, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (9.1% 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 (6.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.5% 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 2013 Audi A1s pass their MOT?
80.4% of the 137,228 2013 Audi A1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Audi A1?
Suspension, recorded in 9.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.5%).
Does the 2013 A1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.2% in the 0-30k band to 25.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 137,228 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.