2003 Audi A6 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Audi A6 passed 74.5% of its 6,089 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.1 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.9% of all tests — 5.0 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and joints — headlamp aim alone was recorded 527 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 28.1% versus 12.4%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 6.2pp more often than petrol ones (27.4% vs 21.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 969 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.9% | 667 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.5% | 638 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 538 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.4% | 331 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 305 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 527 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 455 |
| 3 | Joints | 428 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 411 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 313 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 266 |
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 | 36.8% | 2,241 |
| 2 | Brakes | 36.7% | 2,235 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.9% | 1,577 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.4% | 1,181 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 1,050 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.2% | 864 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 89 | 12.4% |
| 60-90k | 467 | 19.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,019 | 21.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,383 | 25.5% |
| 150k+ | 3,106 | 28.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,218 | 27.4% |
| Petrol | 1,865 | 21.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,936 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 1,398 | 24.9% |
| 2023 | 1,173 | 25.6% |
| 2024 | 887 | 26.0% |
| 2025 | 695 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2003 A6
On a 2003 A6, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.9% 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.
- Brakes (10.5% 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 2003 Audi A6s pass their MOT?
74.5% of the 6,089 2003 Audi A6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Audi A6?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.9% of tests, followed by suspension (10.9%).
Does the 2003 A6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.4% in the 30-60k band to 28.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,089 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.