2004 Audi A2 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Audi A2 passed 72.1% of its 10,983 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.6%) and suspension (12.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and malfunction indicator lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 831 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.5% versus 15.4%.
The diesel cars hold up better: 27.1% fail against 29.2% for petrol, a 2.1-point gap across 10,983 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 1,496 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.6% | 1,385 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.4% | 1,362 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.2% | 792 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.5% | 601 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.1% | 455 |
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 | 831 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 493 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 477 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 461 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 455 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 400 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 31.0% | 3,403 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.2% | 2,983 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.4% | 2,785 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 1,622 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.5% | 1,484 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.4% | 1,251 |
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 | 65 | 15.4% |
| 30-60k | 545 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,708 | 24.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,911 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,849 | 29.1% |
| 150k+ | 2,886 | 30.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,799 | 27.1% |
| Petrol | 4,184 | 29.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,602 | 28.5% |
| 2022 | 2,403 | 27.0% |
| 2023 | 2,210 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 1,949 | 28.2% |
| 2025 | 1,819 | 27.3% |
What to check before buying a 2004 A2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.6% 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 (12.4% 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 2004 Audi A2s pass their MOT?
72.1% of the 10,983 2004 Audi A2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Audi A2?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by suspension (12.6%).
Does the 2004 A2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.4% in the 0-30k band to 30.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,983 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.