2018 Audi A1 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 111,760 MOT tests, the 2018 Audi A1 recorded an 88.9% pass rate. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (11.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.5%) and suspension (3.1%) 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 headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 2,974 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.1% once past 150k — 4.4× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 11.0% fail against 13.1% for diesel, a 2.1-point gap across 111,760 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 6,156 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.1% | 3,415 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 2,935 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.9% | 2,130 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.1% | 1,234 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 865 |
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 | 2,974 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,822 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,905 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,524 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 1,243 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 982 |
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 | 26.4% | 29,492 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.8% | 15,444 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.7% | 7,450 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.6% | 7,422 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 2,745 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 583 |
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 | 52,106 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 49,395 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 8,997 | 18.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,044 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 146 | 19.2% |
| 150k+ | 56 | 32.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 105,613 | 11.0% |
| Diesel | 6,147 | 13.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,085 | 7.4% |
| 2022 | 21,871 | 8.2% |
| 2023 | 22,157 | 10.7% |
| 2024 | 22,495 | 13.6% |
| 2025 | 23,152 | 15.5% |
What to check before buying a 2018 A1
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.5% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.5% 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.
- Suspension (3.1% 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 (2.6% 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 2018 Audi A1s pass their MOT?
88.9% of the 111,760 2018 Audi A1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Audi A1?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by suspension (3.1%).
Does the 2018 A1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 111,760 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.