2008 Audi A5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 26,496 MOT tests, the 2008 Audi A5 recorded a 78.8% pass rate. That is 1.3 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.5%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.5%) and lighting & signalling (8.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,377 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.4% versus 16.9%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 21.0% of the time against 21.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.5% | 2,523 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 2,183 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.3% | 1,938 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 1,228 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.1% | 1,077 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.6% | 942 |
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 | 1,377 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,326 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,074 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 953 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 916 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 742 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.7% | 8,670 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.0% | 7,419 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.4% | 5,128 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 2,316 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.1% | 2,134 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 1,751 |
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 | 77 | 16.9% |
| 30-60k | 710 | 14.5% |
| 60-90k | 3,366 | 18.4% |
| 90-120k | 7,516 | 21.2% |
| 120-150k | 7,811 | 21.9% |
| 150k+ | 7,008 | 22.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,695 | 21.3% |
| Petrol | 9,801 | 21.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,333 | 21.5% |
| 2022 | 5,927 | 21.0% |
| 2023 | 5,352 | 21.4% |
| 2024 | 4,707 | 20.4% |
| 2025 | 4,177 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 A5
On a 2008 A5, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (9.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (8.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.3% 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.
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 2008 Audi A5s pass their MOT?
78.8% of the 26,496 2008 Audi A5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Audi A5?
Suspension, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.2%).
Does the 2008 A5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.9% in the 0-30k band to 22.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 26,496 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.