Audi A4: suspension MOT failures
Suspension was recorded as a failure area in 7.5% of Audi A4 MOT tests — 119,011 tests out of 1,591,058. It shows up most on 1996 and 1997 cars.
Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair cost: £150–£450 per corner (rough UK ballpark, not a quote).
Suspension failures by year
| Model year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 509 | 13.6% |
| 1996 | 1,437 | 14.5% |
| 1997 | 2,170 | 14.0% |
| 1998 | 3,744 | 13.0% |
| 1999 | 5,746 | 13.3% |
| 2000 | 7,540 | 13.4% |
| 2001 | 8,024 | 12.9% |
| 2002 | 18,458 | 13.3% |
| 2003 | 33,817 | 13.1% |
| 2004 | 54,779 | 12.3% |
| 2005 | 62,691 | 11.4% |
| 2006 | 96,827 | 10.6% |
| 2007 | 108,967 | 10.2% |
| 2008 | 106,804 | 10.6% |
| 2009 | 85,361 | 9.6% |
| 2010 | 83,642 | 8.9% |
| 2011 | 86,225 | 8.3% |
| 2012 | 83,053 | 6.4% |
| 2013 | 97,545 | 5.5% |
| 2014 | 101,826 | 5.3% |
| 2015 | 98,135 | 5.0% |
| 2016 | 128,775 | 6.0% |
| 2017 | 122,125 | 4.5% |
| 2018 | 78,693 | 3.7% |
| 2019 | 60,690 | 1.9% |
| 2020 | 28,982 | 1.3% |
| 2021 | 16,336 | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 7,736 | 1.0% |
| 2023 | 396 | 2.3% |
Methodology & source. 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.