2001 Audi A2 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,962 MOT tests, the 2001 Audi A2 recorded a 70.8% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.1% of the time, so this is 2.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.3%) and lighting & signalling (14.4%) 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 catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 688 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.3% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.9% of the time against 29.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.3% | 1,369 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 1,288 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.9% | 1,159 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 533 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 533 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 524 |
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 | 688 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 578 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 403 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 376 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 370 |
| 6 | Joints | 358 |
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 | 34.4% | 3,080 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.9% | 2,768 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.1% | 2,430 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.1% | 1,624 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 1,594 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.7% | 1,320 |
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 | 63 | 22.2% |
| 30-60k | 423 | 22.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,217 | 26.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,980 | 29.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,138 | 30.3% |
| 150k+ | 3,135 | 30.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,134 | 29.3% |
| Petrol | 3,828 | 28.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,347 | 29.9% |
| 2022 | 1,992 | 27.8% |
| 2023 | 1,779 | 29.1% |
| 2024 | 1,494 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 1,350 | 29.6% |
What to check before buying a 2001 A2
On a 2001 A2, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.3% 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 (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.9% 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
How many 2001 Audi A2s pass their MOT?
70.8% of the 8,962 2001 Audi A2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Audi A2?
Suspension, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.4%).
Does the 2001 A2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.2% in the 0-30k band to 30.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,962 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.