2009 Audi A6 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Audi A6 passed 80.4% of its 27,891 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.1 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.7%) and suspension (8.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, malfunction indicator lamp and linkage pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,417 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.5% in the 0-30k band and 21.0% in the 150k+ band, a 10.5-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.3pp more often than petrol ones (20.1% vs 14.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 2,971 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.1% | 2,247 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.3% | 1,745 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 1,243 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.8% | 1,063 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 919 |
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 | 1,417 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,092 |
| 3 | Linkage pins and bushes | 976 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 904 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 891 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 851 |
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 | 28.1% | 7,846 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.8% | 7,749 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.3% | 6,210 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 4,855 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.6% | 2,685 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 1,637 |
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 | 76 | 10.5% |
| 30-60k | 613 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,260 | 14.9% |
| 90-120k | 5,339 | 18.8% |
| 120-150k | 7,372 | 20.1% |
| 150k+ | 12,227 | 21.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 25,681 | 20.1% |
| Petrol | 2,210 | 14.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,326 | 19.3% |
| 2022 | 6,113 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 5,603 | 19.2% |
| 2024 | 5,241 | 20.1% |
| 2025 | 4,608 | 19.9% |
What to check before buying a 2009 A6
On a 2009 A6, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.1% 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 (6.3% 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 2009 Audi A6s pass their MOT?
80.4% of the 27,891 2009 Audi A6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Audi A6?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by suspension (8.1%).
Does the 2009 A6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.5% in the 0-30k band to 21.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,891 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.