2021 Audi A5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Audi A5 passed 90.3% of its 11,905 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (9.8% 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
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 6.2% of tests against 1.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and shock absorbers — tread depth alone was recorded 384 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 A5 fails 8.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.4% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.9 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 8.8% fail against 10.9% for diesel, a 2.2-point gap across 11,847 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.0% of tests failed in 2023 against 9.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.2% | 734 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 216 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.5% | 177 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 149 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.0% | 115 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.9% | 101 |
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 | 384 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 238 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 222 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 144 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 88 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 86 |
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 | 22.7% | 2,703 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.4% | 881 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.6% | 782 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.6% | 551 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 329 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 57 |
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 | 5,857 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 5,379 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 590 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 67 | 10.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,678 | 8.8% |
| Diesel | 5,169 | 10.9% |
| Hybrid | 58 | 5.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 186 | 7.0% |
| 2024 | 5,945 | 9.9% |
| 2025 | 5,764 | 9.6% |
What to check before buying a 2021 A5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.2% 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 (1.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (1.5% 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.
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 2021 Audi A5s pass their MOT?
90.3% of the 11,905 2021 Audi A5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Audi A5?
Tyres, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.8%).
Does the 2021 A5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 10.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,905 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.