2014 Audi A1 — MOT failures & pass rate
137,676 MOT tests on the 2014 Audi A1 are in this dataset, and 82.8% of them passed. That is 2.3 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 19.5%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.2%) and tyres (6.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, tread depth and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 5,267 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.5% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 16.1% fail against 19.4% for diesel, a 3.3-point gap across 137,676 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.2% | 9,863 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.5% | 8,941 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 6,906 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.8% | 5,273 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 2,960 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 1,855 |
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 | 5,267 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 4,528 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 4,215 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 4,202 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 2,676 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 2,542 |
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 | 27.9% | 38,434 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.2% | 31,977 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.5% | 19,995 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.8% | 9,397 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 4,445 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 2,903 |
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 | 10,490 | 9.2% |
| 30-60k | 51,609 | 14.5% |
| 60-90k | 51,401 | 19.0% |
| 90-120k | 19,242 | 22.4% |
| 120-150k | 4,063 | 23.5% |
| 150k+ | 846 | 24.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 89,647 | 16.1% |
| Diesel | 48,029 | 19.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 26,720 | 13.6% |
| 2022 | 27,059 | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 27,802 | 17.9% |
| 2024 | 27,925 | 19.0% |
| 2025 | 28,170 | 20.1% |
What to check before buying a 2014 A1
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.2% 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.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2014 Audi A1s pass their MOT?
82.8% of the 137,676 2014 Audi A1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Audi A1?
Suspension, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by tyres (6.5%).
Does the 2014 A1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.2% in the 0-30k band to 24.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 137,676 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.