1996 Audi A6 — MOT failures & pass rate
659 MOT tests on the 1996 Audi A6 are in this dataset, and 77.7% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 21.7%, so the 1996 A6 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.8%) and emissions & environmental (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, pins and bushes and wheel bearings — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 80 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1996 A6 fails 20.4% of the time in the 60-90k band and 22.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.2% in 2021 to 14.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 58 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 8.3% | 55 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.7% | 51 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 44 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.2% | 41 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.2% | 34 |
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 | 80 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 21 |
| 3 | Wheel bearings | 21 |
| 4 | Washers | 20 |
| 5 | Wipers | 19 |
| 6 | Joints | 18 |
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% | 237 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.9% | 217 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.4% | 128 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.0% | 112 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 99 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.5% | 89 |
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 | 44 | 20.4% |
| 90-120k | 63 | 23.8% |
| 120-150k | 70 | 21.4% |
| 150k+ | 449 | 22.3% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 442 | 24.2% |
| Diesel | 217 | 18.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 178 | 24.2% |
| 2022 | 151 | 22.5% |
| 2023 | 132 | 24.2% |
| 2024 | 110 | 22.7% |
| 2025 | 88 | 14.8% |
What to check before buying a 1996 A6
On a 1996 A6, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (8.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (7.7% 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.
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 1996 Audi A6s pass their MOT?
77.7% of the 659 1996 Audi A6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Audi A6?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (8.3%).
Does the 1996 A6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.4% in the 60-90k band to 22.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 659 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.