2015 Audi A1 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 139,646 MOT tests, the 2015 Audi A1 recorded an 84.7% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 17.6% of the time, so this is 2.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.3%) and suspension (6.1%) 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 coil spring — pins and bushes alone was recorded 5,629 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.8% in the 0-30k band and 27.1% in the 150k+ band, a 19.2-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.8pp more often than petrol ones (17.8% vs 14.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.3% | 8,756 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.1% | 8,470 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 5,197 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.5% | 4,835 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.6% | 2,292 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 1,947 |
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 | 5,629 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 4,719 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 3,139 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 2,742 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,653 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 2,087 |
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 | 27.3% | 38,174 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.4% | 29,866 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.2% | 18,482 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.6% | 9,215 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 3,810 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 2,143 |
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 | 14,832 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 63,491 | 13.4% |
| 60-90k | 45,427 | 18.2% |
| 90-120k | 12,991 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,367 | 22.6% |
| 150k+ | 510 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 91,154 | 14.0% |
| Diesel | 48,492 | 17.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 27,100 | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 27,527 | 13.2% |
| 2023 | 28,073 | 15.6% |
| 2024 | 28,445 | 17.5% |
| 2025 | 28,501 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a 2015 A1
On a 2015 A1, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Suspension (6.1% 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 (3.7% 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 2015 Audi A1s pass their MOT?
84.7% of the 139,646 2015 Audi A1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Audi A1?
Tyres, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by suspension (6.1%).
Does the 2015 A1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 27.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 139,646 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.