2013 Audi A5 — MOT failures & pass rate
64,225 MOT tests on the 2013 Audi A5 are in this dataset, and 83.2% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 17.0%, so the 2013 A5 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (7.7%) and lighting & signalling (5.5%) 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 joints — tread depth alone was recorded 2,696 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.5% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.8pp more often than petrol ones (17.7% vs 13.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.7% | 4,921 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 3,513 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 2,831 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.3% | 2,089 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 1,769 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.6% | 1,685 |
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 | 2,696 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,508 |
| 3 | Joints | 1,541 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 1,531 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 1,435 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,420 |
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 | 27.5% | 17,657 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.1% | 13,565 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.2% | 11,062 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.1% | 4,581 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 2,630 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 1,797 |
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 | 842 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 9,739 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 21,638 | 15.9% |
| 90-120k | 18,431 | 18.8% |
| 120-150k | 9,251 | 19.9% |
| 150k+ | 4,314 | 20.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 49,467 | 17.7% |
| Petrol | 14,758 | 13.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,990 | 14.6% |
| 2022 | 12,989 | 15.7% |
| 2023 | 13,025 | 17.3% |
| 2024 | 12,690 | 17.9% |
| 2025 | 12,531 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 A5
On a 2013 A5, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.7% 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 (5.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.4% 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 2013 Audi A5s pass their MOT?
83.2% of the 64,225 2013 Audi A5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Audi A5?
Tyres, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.5%).
Does the 2013 A5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 20.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 64,225 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.