2010 Audi A6 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 42,269 MOT tests, the 2010 Audi A6 recorded an 80.6% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail 20.8% of the time, so this is 1.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.1%) and lighting & signalling (7.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are linkage pins and bushes, headlamp aim and tread depth — linkage pins and bushes alone was recorded 1,671 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.6% in the 0-30k band and 20.6% in the 150k+ band, a 10.9-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.0pp more often than petrol ones (19.5% vs 16.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.1% | 3,427 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 3,332 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.0% | 2,942 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 1,509 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 1,446 |
| 6 | Brakes | 3.2% | 1,371 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linkage pins and bushes | 1,671 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,501 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,345 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,340 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 1,203 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,010 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 27.8% | 11,748 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.4% | 11,140 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.6% | 8,700 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 6,096 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.9% | 3,743 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 2,502 |
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 | 83 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 943 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 4,458 | 16.5% |
| 90-120k | 9,893 | 19.4% |
| 120-150k | 11,614 | 19.4% |
| 150k+ | 15,268 | 20.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 40,500 | 19.5% |
| Petrol | 1,769 | 16.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,143 | 18.6% |
| 2022 | 8,946 | 18.7% |
| 2023 | 8,629 | 19.5% |
| 2024 | 8,075 | 20.0% |
| 2025 | 7,476 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 2010 A6
On a 2010 A6, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.0% 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 2010 Audi A6s pass their MOT?
80.6% of the 42,269 2010 Audi A6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Audi A6?
Suspension, recorded in 8.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.9%).
Does the 2010 A6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 20.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 42,269 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.