2008 Audi A6 — MOT failures & pass rate
39,781 MOT tests on the 2008 Audi A6 are in this dataset, and 79.0% of them passed. That is 1.4 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.0%) and suspension (9.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,322 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2008 A6 fails 20.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 21.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.8 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 19.1% fail against 21.1% for diesel, a 2.0-point gap across 39,773 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 4,779 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.4% | 3,741 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.3% | 2,923 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 1,805 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.0% | 1,572 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 1,447 |
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 | 2,322 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,488 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,445 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,380 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 1,325 |
| 6 | Linkage pins and bushes | 1,314 |
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 | 34.5% | 13,738 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.8% | 11,866 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.4% | 9,721 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 6,293 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.3% | 4,090 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 3,203 |
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 | 45 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 439 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,393 | 17.5% |
| 90-120k | 6,914 | 20.1% |
| 120-150k | 10,917 | 21.3% |
| 150k+ | 19,062 | 21.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 37,573 | 21.1% |
| Petrol | 2,200 | 19.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,783 | 20.3% |
| 2022 | 9,184 | 21.0% |
| 2023 | 8,138 | 20.9% |
| 2024 | 6,941 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 5,735 | 22.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 A6
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.4% 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.
- Tyres (7.3% 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.
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 2008 Audi A6s pass their MOT?
79.0% of the 39,781 2008 Audi A6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Audi A6?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.0% of tests, followed by suspension (9.4%).
Does the 2008 A6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 0-30k band to 21.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 39,781 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.