2021 Audi A5 S Line Ed 1 40 Mhev Sa — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 1,533 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Audi A5 S Line Ed 1 40 Mhev Sa, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 90.5% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).

Pass rate

1,533

MOT tests analysed

9.5%

Fail rate

in line with

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 Ed 1 40 Mhev Sa
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	7.8%	120
2	Lighting & signalling	1.1%	17
3	Visibility	0.8%	12
4	Other defects	0.7%	11
5	Suspension	0.5%	7
6	Brakes	0.3%	5

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 Ed 1 40 Mhev Sa
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	80
2	Registration plates	20
3	Headlamp aim	16
4	Washers	7
5	Mounting	5
6	Wipers	4

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 Ed 1 40 Mhev Sa
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	23.2%	355
2	Other defects	7.2%	111
3	Brakes	3.8%	58
4	Suspension	3.6%	55
5	Visibility	2.7%	41
6	Road wheels	0.9%	13

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 Ed 1 40 Mhev Sa
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	927	9.4%
30-60k	565	9.7%
60-90k	40	7.5%

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 Ed 1 40 Mhev Sa
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	36	13.9%
2024	739	9.9%
2025	758	8.8%

What to check before buying a 2021 A5 S Line Ed 1 40 Mhev Sa

Before buying a 2021 Audi A5 S Line Ed 1 40 Mhev Sa, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 7.8% of tests for this year.

Tyres (7.8% 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 (1.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Visibility (0.8% 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 Ed 1 40 Mhev Sas pass their MOT?

90.5% of the 1,533 2021 Audi A5 S Line Ed 1 40 Mhev Sa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.5% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Audi A5 S Line Ed 1 40 Mhev Sa?

Tyres, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.1%).

Does the 2021 A5 S Line Ed 1 40 Mhev Sa get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.4% in the 0-30k band to 7.5% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 1,533 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.