2021 Audi A5 35 Mhev S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 1,766 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Audi A5 35 Mhev S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 85.8% was below the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 17.9% in the 60-90k group versus 12.4% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

1,766

MOT tests analysed

14.2%

Fail rate

worse than

vs cars of similar age

3.5

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2021 Audi A5 35 Mhev S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Suspension	6.6%	116
2	Tyres	6.1%	108
3	Lighting & signalling	2.4%	42
4	Emissions & environmental	2.2%	39
5	Brakes	1.3%	23
6	Seat belts & restraints	1.0%	18

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2021 Audi A5 35 Mhev S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Shock absorbers	166
2	Headlamp aim	43
3	Malfunction indicator lamp	39
4	Tread depth	30
5	Brake pads	23
6	SRS malfunction indicator lamp	16

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Audi A5 35 Mhev S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	24.9%	440
2	Brakes	9.0%	159
3	Suspension	8.8%	156
4	Other defects	6.5%	115
5	Visibility	3.1%	55
6	Emissions & environmental	0.1%	2

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2021 A5 35 Mhev S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	801	12.4%
30-60k	848	15.7%
60-90k	95	17.9%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

By fuel type

Fail rate by fuel type — 2021 A5 35 Mhev S-A
Fuel	Tests	Fail rate
Diesel	1,244	14.8%
Petrol	518	12.9%

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2021 A5 35 Mhev S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2024	902	15.2%
2025	844	13.3%

What to check before buying a 2021 A5 35 Mhev S-A

Before buying a 2021 Audi A5 35 Mhev S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 6.6% of tests for this year.

Suspension (6.6% 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 (6.1% 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.
Lighting & signalling (2.4% 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 2021 Audi A5 35 Mhev S-As pass their MOT?

85.8% of the 1,766 2021 Audi A5 35 Mhev S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.2% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Audi A5 35 Mhev S-A?

Suspension, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by tyres (6.1%).

Does the 2021 A5 35 Mhev S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.4% in the 0-30k band to 17.9% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 1,766 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.