2012 Audi A5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Audi A5 passed 82.5% of its 56,560 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (18.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (7.8%) and lighting & signalling (6.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and joints — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,532 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.6% in the 0-30k band and 21.0% in the 150k+ band, a 11.4-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 15.0% fail against 18.4% for diesel, a 3.4-point gap across 56,554 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.8% | 4,412 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 3,427 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.7% | 2,671 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 1,841 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.1% | 1,736 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 1,575 |
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 | 2,532 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,478 |
| 3 | Joints | 1,527 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 1,427 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 1,401 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,086 |
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 | 28.0% | 15,846 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.0% | 12,990 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.4% | 9,857 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.7% | 3,790 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 2,673 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 2,087 |
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 | 492 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 6,123 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 16,819 | 15.8% |
| 90-120k | 17,624 | 18.9% |
| 120-150k | 10,098 | 19.7% |
| 150k+ | 5,379 | 21.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 41,756 | 18.4% |
| Petrol | 14,798 | 15.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,657 | 15.8% |
| 2022 | 11,618 | 17.1% |
| 2023 | 11,475 | 17.9% |
| 2024 | 11,095 | 17.9% |
| 2025 | 10,715 | 18.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 A5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.8% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (6.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.7% 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.
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 2012 Audi A5s pass their MOT?
82.5% of the 56,560 2012 Audi A5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Audi A5?
Tyres, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.1%).
Does the 2012 A5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 21.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 56,560 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.