2022 Audi A4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,736 MOT tests, the 2022 Audi A4 recorded a 90.6% pass rate. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (9.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.0% of tests against 2.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and shock absorbers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 194 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 15.0% once past 90-120k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.1% of the time against 10.3% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.0% | 541 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 162 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.2% | 95 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.0% | 77 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.8% | 63 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 49 |
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 | 194 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 156 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 91 |
| 4 | Washers | 60 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 60 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 46 |
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 | 22.5% | 1,744 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.4% | 498 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 489 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 248 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.6% | 203 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 19 |
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 | 4,035 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 3,236 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 399 | 11.8% |
| 90-120k | 60 | 15.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,870 | 9.1% |
| Diesel | 1,825 | 10.3% |
| Hybrid | 41 | 9.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 364 | 5.2% |
| 2025 | 7,349 | 9.6% |
What to check before buying a 2022 A4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.0% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2022 Audi A4s pass their MOT?
90.6% of the 7,736 2022 Audi A4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 Audi A4?
Tyres, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.1%).
Does the 2022 A4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 15.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,736 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.