Audi A2 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Audi A2 appears in 48,435 MOT tests spanning model years 1994–2019, and 71.3% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), the A2 comes out 1.2pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.1%) and suspension (14.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 3,775 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.5% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 28.5% of the time against 28.9% for petrol.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 31.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every A2 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 91 | 87.9% | 12.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 649 | 73.2% | 26.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 8,962 | 70.8% | 29.2% | Suspension |
| 2002 | 11,586 | 70.5% | 29.5% | Suspension |
| 2003 | 9,411 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 10,983 | 72.1% | 27.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 6,673 | 72.4% | 27.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 6,848 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.0% | 6,768 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.5% | 6,051 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 3,134 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.6% | 2,716 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 2,543 |
| 7 | Visibility | 4.8% | 2,340 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.9% | 1,890 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 3,775 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 2,549 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 2,086 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 1,952 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 1,920 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 1,905 |
| 7 | Joints | 1,695 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 1,630 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 31.2% | 15,093 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.9% | 14,471 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.5% | 12,353 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 7,726 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.7% | 7,623 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.3% | 6,440 |
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 | 265 | 18.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,478 | 19.9% |
| 60-90k | 7,345 | 25.9% |
| 90-120k | 12,295 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 11,701 | 30.2% |
| 150k+ | 14,315 | 30.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 28,063 | 28.5% |
| Petrol | 20,372 | 28.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,038 | 29.1% |
| 2022 | 10,728 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 9,737 | 29.0% |
| 2024 | 8,346 | 28.5% |
| 2025 | 7,586 | 28.1% |
What to check before buying a Audi A2
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.0% 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.
- Brakes (12.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Audi A2?
71.3% of the 48,435 Audi A2 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 28.7% fail rate, across model years 1994–2019.
What does the Audi A2 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, then suspension (14.0%).
How much does mileage affect A2 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 30.5% for 150k+, a 12.0-point difference.
Is the diesel or petrol A2 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the diesel fails 28.5% of the time against 28.9% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 48,435 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.