2005 Audi A4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Audi A4 passed 75.0% of its 62,691 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 24.1%, so the 2005 A4 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.3%) and suspension (11.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and ball joint dust cover — headlamp aim alone was recorded 5,299 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.0% once past 150k — 2.9× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 24.4% of the time against 25.5% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 40.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 8,966 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.4% | 7,122 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.7% | 6,702 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.5% | 4,044 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 3,550 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 3,019 |
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 | 5,299 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 3,161 |
| 3 | Ball joint dust cover | 2,762 |
| 4 | Flexible brake hoses | 2,458 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,359 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 2,300 |
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 | 40.6% | 25,473 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.5% | 18,482 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.7% | 17,966 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 10,949 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.2% | 9,524 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.3% | 6,459 |
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 | 223 | 9.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,719 | 16.4% |
| 60-90k | 6,658 | 22.6% |
| 90-120k | 13,797 | 24.6% |
| 120-150k | 16,782 | 26.0% |
| 150k+ | 23,420 | 26.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 36,525 | 25.5% |
| Petrol | 26,161 | 24.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,454 | 25.1% |
| 2022 | 15,482 | 25.1% |
| 2023 | 12,279 | 25.0% |
| 2024 | 9,393 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 7,083 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2005 A4
On a 2005 A4, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.4% 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 (10.7% 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 2005 Audi A4s pass their MOT?
75.0% of the 62,691 2005 Audi A4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Audi A4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by suspension (11.4%).
Does the 2005 A4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.0% in the 0-30k band to 26.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 62,691 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.