2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 Mhev S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 1,924 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 Mhev S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 93.1% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).

Pass rate

1,924

MOT tests analysed

6.9%

Fail rate

better 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 S Line 40 Mhev S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	5.2%	100
2	Lighting & signalling	2.0%	38
3	Visibility	1.2%	23
4	Brakes	0.5%	10
5	Seat belts & restraints	0.5%	9
6	Suspension	0.4%	8

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 S Line 40 Mhev S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Headlamp aim	43
2	Tread depth	39
3	Washers	16
4	Wipers	13
5	Registration plates	10
6	Shock absorbers	9

Top advisory categories

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

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 Mhev S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	22.0%	424
2	Other defects	5.3%	103
3	Brakes	5.2%	100
4	Suspension	3.7%	72
5	Visibility	3.0%	57
6	Lighting & signalling	0.2%	4

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 S Line 40 Mhev S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	1,076	5.8%
30-60k	774	8.4%
60-90k	69	8.7%

Failure rate by age

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

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2021 A5 S Line 40 Mhev S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	40	2.5%
2024	932	6.7%
2025	952	7.3%

What to check before buying a 2021 A5 S Line 40 Mhev S-A

Before buying a 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 Mhev S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.2% of tests for this year.

Tyres (5.2% 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 (2.0% 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 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 Mhev S-As pass their MOT?

93.1% of the 1,924 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 Mhev S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.9% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 Mhev S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.0%).

Does the 2021 A5 S Line 40 Mhev S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.8% in the 0-30k band to 8.7% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 1,924 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.