2011 Audi A5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Audi A5 passed 81.1% of its 59,626 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 19.7%, so the 2011 A5 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (7.8%) and suspension (7.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — tread depth alone was recorded 2,603 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.8% versus 14.2%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.5pp more often than petrol ones (20.1% vs 16.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.8% | 4,624 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.2% | 4,277 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 3,759 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 2,236 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.7% | 2,187 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 1,534 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 2,603 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,438 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 2,304 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 1,462 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 1,377 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,293 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 28.5% | 17,026 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.4% | 16,346 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.5% | 11,021 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.4% | 4,390 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 3,484 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 3,035 |
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 | 592 | 14.2% |
| 30-60k | 5,305 | 13.1% |
| 60-90k | 15,687 | 17.0% |
| 90-120k | 18,158 | 19.9% |
| 120-150k | 11,940 | 20.5% |
| 150k+ | 7,855 | 21.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 38,078 | 20.1% |
| Petrol | 21,545 | 16.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,393 | 17.1% |
| 2022 | 12,338 | 18.1% |
| 2023 | 12,090 | 19.0% |
| 2024 | 11,609 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 11,196 | 20.8% |
What to check before buying a 2011 A5
On a 2011 A5, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Suspension (7.2% 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 (6.3% 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 2011 Audi A5s pass their MOT?
81.1% of the 59,626 2011 Audi A5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Audi A5?
Tyres, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by suspension (7.2%).
Does the 2011 A5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.2% in the 0-30k band to 21.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 59,626 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.