2019 Audi A4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Audi A4 passed 89.2% of its 60,690 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (10.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.1% of tests against 1.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 2,471 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2019 A4 fails 7.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.2 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 10.5% of the time against 11.1% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.1% | 4,282 |
| 2 | Suspension | 1.9% | 1,131 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.4% | 839 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 780 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.1% | 687 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 394 |
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 | 2,471 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 902 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 796 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 715 |
| 5 | Wipers | 463 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 359 |
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 | 24.3% | 14,747 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.7% | 8,320 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.4% | 4,483 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.4% | 3,302 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 1,875 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 260 |
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 | 18,644 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 29,376 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 9,656 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,336 | 13.7% |
| 120-150k | 541 | 13.3% |
| 150k+ | 137 | 10.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 39,172 | 10.5% |
| Diesel | 21,512 | 11.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 640 | 7.0% |
| 2022 | 15,355 | 9.4% |
| 2023 | 15,228 | 10.3% |
| 2024 | 14,659 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 14,808 | 12.7% |
What to check before buying a 2019 A4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.1% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.1% 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 (1.9% 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 (1.4% 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 2019 Audi A4s pass their MOT?
89.2% of the 60,690 2019 Audi A4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Audi A4?
Tyres, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by suspension (1.9%).
Does the 2019 A4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 10.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 60,690 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.