2020 Audi A4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Audi A4 passed 90.6% of its 28,982 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (10.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 6.5% of tests against 1.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and mounting — tread depth alone was recorded 1,179 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 A4 fails 7.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.7 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.1% of the time against 9.8% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.0% in 2021 to 9.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.5% | 1,877 |
| 2 | Suspension | 1.3% | 382 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 350 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.0% | 289 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.9% | 257 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 117 |
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 | 1,179 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 430 |
| 3 | Mounting | 239 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 219 |
| 5 | Wipers | 175 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 125 |
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 | 23.2% | 6,725 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.8% | 3,125 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.1% | 2,067 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.5% | 1,879 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 876 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 138 |
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 | 10,368 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 14,400 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 3,363 | 11.9% |
| 90-120k | 667 | 13.2% |
| 120-150k | 138 | 12.3% |
| 150k+ | 45 | 11.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 17,113 | 9.1% |
| Diesel | 11,844 | 9.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 50 | 18.0% |
| 2022 | 399 | 7.3% |
| 2023 | 9,847 | 9.5% |
| 2024 | 9,408 | 8.9% |
| 2025 | 9,278 | 9.9% |
What to check before buying a 2020 A4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.5% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Suspension (1.3% 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 (1.2% 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 2020 Audi A4s pass their MOT?
90.6% of the 28,982 2020 Audi A4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi A4?
Tyres, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by suspension (1.3%).
Does the 2020 A4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 11.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,982 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.