2016 Audi A1 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 149,105 MOT tests, the 2016 Audi A1 recorded an 85.1% pass rate. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (15.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.2%) and tyres (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 brake pads — pins and bushes alone was recorded 7,292 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.5% in the 0-30k band and 21.9% in the 150k+ band, a 13.4-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 14.2% fail against 17.2% for diesel, a 3.0-point gap across 149,105 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.2% | 9,265 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.1% | 9,036 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 5,046 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.2% | 4,756 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.5% | 2,155 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 1,448 |
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 | 7,292 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 5,045 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 3,026 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 2,832 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,597 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 2,066 |
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 | 27.2% | 40,562 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.2% | 30,092 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.7% | 17,480 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.7% | 10,020 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 4,109 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 1,639 |
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 | 26,862 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 77,805 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 36,145 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 6,950 | 21.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,097 | 24.3% |
| 150k+ | 210 | 21.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 115,032 | 14.2% |
| Diesel | 34,073 | 17.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 28,530 | 10.1% |
| 2022 | 29,236 | 12.7% |
| 2023 | 29,993 | 15.4% |
| 2024 | 30,532 | 17.2% |
| 2025 | 30,814 | 18.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 A1
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 6.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (6.2% 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 (6.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% 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 2016 Audi A1s pass their MOT?
85.1% of the 149,105 2016 Audi A1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Audi A1?
Suspension, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by tyres (6.1%).
Does the 2016 A1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 21.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 149,105 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.