2002 Audi A2 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Audi A2 passed 70.5% of its 11,586 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.5% 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 (14.8%) and lighting & signalling (14.7%) 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 track rod end — headlamp aim alone was recorded 940 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.0% versus 16.7%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 29.5% of the time against 29.6% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.8% | 1,712 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 1,704 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.7% | 1,466 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 739 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.9% | 679 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.7% | 659 |
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 | 940 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 766 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 583 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 551 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 507 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 506 |
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 | 33.9% | 3,928 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.3% | 3,391 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.2% | 2,922 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.0% | 2,202 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 1,937 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.3% | 1,773 |
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 | 30 | 16.7% |
| 30-60k | 544 | 18.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,752 | 27.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,877 | 29.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,806 | 32.0% |
| 150k+ | 3,574 | 31.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,240 | 29.6% |
| Petrol | 5,346 | 29.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,973 | 29.9% |
| 2022 | 2,624 | 29.7% |
| 2023 | 2,314 | 29.6% |
| 2024 | 1,940 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 1,735 | 29.4% |
What to check before buying a 2002 A2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 14.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (14.8% 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 (14.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.7% 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 2002 Audi A2s pass their MOT?
70.5% of the 11,586 2002 Audi A2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Audi A2?
Suspension, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.7%).
Does the 2002 A2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 0-30k band to 31.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,586 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.