2016 Audi A4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 128,775 MOT tests, the 2016 Audi A4 recorded an 86.0% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail 12.7% of the time, so this is 1.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.0%) and tyres (5.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and brake pads — coil spring alone was recorded 6,352 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.0% in the 0-30k band and 16.2% in the 150k+ band, a 8.2-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.3pp more often than petrol ones (15.0% vs 11.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.0% | 7,723 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.6% | 7,264 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.1% | 2,645 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.8% | 2,339 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 2,158 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 2,129 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 6,352 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 5,148 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 2,199 |
| 4 | Wipers | 2,018 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 2,002 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,787 |
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 | 23.6% | 30,395 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.6% | 18,816 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.9% | 17,848 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.8% | 10,047 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 4,020 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 1,055 |
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 | 5,927 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 44,215 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 44,804 | 15.0% |
| 90-120k | 22,219 | 16.4% |
| 120-150k | 8,162 | 16.3% |
| 150k+ | 3,441 | 16.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 89,604 | 15.0% |
| Petrol | 39,171 | 11.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,588 | 10.5% |
| 2022 | 25,754 | 12.5% |
| 2023 | 26,059 | 14.9% |
| 2024 | 25,938 | 15.9% |
| 2025 | 25,436 | 16.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 A4
On a 2016 A4, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (6.0% 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.
- Tyres (5.6% 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.
- Brakes (2.1% 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 2016 Audi A4s pass their MOT?
86.0% of the 128,775 2016 Audi A4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Audi A4?
Suspension, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by tyres (5.6%).
Does the 2016 A4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 16.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 128,775 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.