2015 Audi A5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 60,531 MOT tests, the 2015 Audi A5 recorded an 85.6% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 14.1%, so the 2015 A5 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 8.1% of all tests — 4.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, shock absorbers and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 2,636 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.2% versus 7.1%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.1pp more often than petrol ones (15.2% vs 12.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.1% | 4,873 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.5% | 2,134 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 1,908 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.5% | 1,544 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 1,193 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 811 |
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 | 2,636 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 1,572 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,498 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,300 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 800 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 691 |
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 | 26.9% | 16,260 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.4% | 9,933 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.8% | 9,589 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.7% | 4,040 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,970 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 802 |
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 | 2,542 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 18,345 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 22,570 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 11,558 | 17.6% |
| 120-150k | 4,019 | 17.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,493 | 17.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 45,110 | 15.2% |
| Petrol | 15,421 | 12.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,161 | 12.4% |
| 2022 | 12,151 | 13.6% |
| 2023 | 12,090 | 14.3% |
| 2024 | 12,118 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 12,011 | 16.1% |
What to check before buying a 2015 A5
On a 2015 A5, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (8.1% 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 (3.5% 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 (3.1% 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 2015 Audi A5s pass their MOT?
85.6% of the 60,531 2015 Audi A5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Audi A5?
Tyres, recorded in 8.1% of tests, followed by suspension (3.5%).
Does the 2015 A5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 17.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 60,531 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.