1995 Audi A6 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 325 MOT tests, the 1995 Audi A6 recorded a 79.1% pass rate. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (21.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (8.9%) and lighting & signalling (8.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, joints and wipers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 29 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.9% in the 60-90k band and 23.5% in the 150k+ band, a 4.6-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.6% in 2021 to 18.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 8.9% | 29 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 27 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 25 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 23 |
| 5 | Suspension | 7.1% | 23 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.5% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 29 |
| 2 | Joints | 18 |
| 3 | Wipers | 17 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 10 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 10 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 36.0% | 117 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.6% | 106 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.8% | 74 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.3% | 66 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.1% | 59 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.9% | 55 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 37 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 50 | 18.0% |
| 120-150k | 71 | 16.9% |
| 150k+ | 149 | 23.5% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 242 | 20.3% |
| Diesel | 83 | 22.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89 | 23.6% |
| 2022 | 74 | 20.3% |
| 2023 | 65 | 18.5% |
| 2024 | 53 | 22.6% |
| 2025 | 44 | 18.2% |
What to check before buying a 1995 A6
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 8.9% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (8.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.7% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1995 Audi A6s pass their MOT?
79.1% of the 325 1995 Audi A6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Audi A6?
Brakes, recorded in 8.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.3%).
Does the 1995 A6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.9% in the 60-90k band to 23.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 325 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.