2015 Audi A4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 98,135 MOT tests, the 2015 Audi A4 recorded an 84.1% pass rate. Against executive cars of a similar age (14.1% fail rate), the 2015 A4 comes out 1.9pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.8%) and suspension (5.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and shock absorbers — tread depth alone was recorded 4,198 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.5% in the 0-30k band and 20.2% in the 150k+ band, a 13.6-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 12.1% fail against 16.4% for diesel, a 4.4-point gap across 98,135 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.8% | 6,670 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.0% | 4,913 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 4,577 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.7% | 2,609 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 2,444 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.9% | 1,862 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 4,198 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,726 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 2,460 |
| 4 | Joints | 2,017 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,926 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,663 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.3% | 24,777 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.9% | 17,607 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.4% | 16,063 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.2% | 8,010 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 3,685 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 2,131 |
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 | 2,100 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 22,326 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 35,933 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 23,270 | 18.9% |
| 120-150k | 9,641 | 18.7% |
| 150k+ | 4,856 | 20.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 86,279 | 16.4% |
| Petrol | 11,856 | 12.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,691 | 13.3% |
| 2022 | 19,769 | 14.8% |
| 2023 | 19,666 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 19,586 | 17.1% |
| 2025 | 19,423 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 A4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.8% 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.
- Suspension (5.0% 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 (4.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2015 Audi A4s pass their MOT?
84.1% of the 98,135 2015 Audi A4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Audi A4?
Tyres, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by suspension (5.0%).
Does the 2015 A4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 20.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 98,135 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.