2011 Audi A4 — MOT failures & pass rate
86,225 MOT tests on the 2011 Audi A4 are in this dataset, and 80.6% of them passed. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (19.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.3%) and lighting & signalling (8.2%) 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 tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 5,211 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.3% versus 12.0%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 16.7% fail against 19.8% for diesel, a 3.1-point gap across 86,214 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.3% | 7,152 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 7,027 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.5% | 5,571 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.9% | 3,372 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 2,943 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.2% | 2,747 |
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 | 5,211 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 3,692 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 3,509 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 2,551 |
| 5 | Joints | 2,098 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 1,973 |
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 | 30.4% | 26,223 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.7% | 23,889 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.6% | 16,857 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.7% | 9,195 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 5,472 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.4% | 4,684 |
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 | 457 | 12.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,582 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 14,387 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 24,513 | 19.4% |
| 120-150k | 22,064 | 20.6% |
| 150k+ | 21,052 | 21.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 74,308 | 19.8% |
| Petrol | 11,906 | 16.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,842 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 17,845 | 18.5% |
| 2023 | 17,481 | 19.4% |
| 2024 | 16,876 | 20.5% |
| 2025 | 16,181 | 20.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 A4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 8.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (8.3% 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 (8.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2011 Audi A4s pass their MOT?
80.6% of the 86,225 2011 Audi A4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Audi A4?
Suspension, recorded in 8.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.2%).
Does the 2011 A4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.0% in the 0-30k band to 21.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 86,225 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.