2014 Audi A6 — MOT failures & pass rate
62,392 MOT tests on the 2014 Audi A6 are in this dataset, and 86.5% of them passed. Against executive cars of a similar age (15.5% fail rate), the 2014 A6 comes out 2.0pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.4%) and suspension (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 2,511 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 15.6% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.9pp more often than petrol ones (13.7% vs 8.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.4% | 3,973 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.6% | 2,256 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 2,103 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 1,294 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 1,226 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.0% | 1,225 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 2,511 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 1,494 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,141 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,132 |
| 5 | Joints | 931 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 826 |
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 | 23.8% | 14,823 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.7% | 8,556 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.7% | 7,923 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.4% | 4,589 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 2,914 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 1,446 |
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 | 610 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 7,369 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 20,290 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 18,612 | 14.6% |
| 120-150k | 9,866 | 14.8% |
| 150k+ | 5,638 | 15.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 60,031 | 13.7% |
| Petrol | 2,341 | 8.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,734 | 11.4% |
| 2022 | 12,717 | 12.9% |
| 2023 | 12,550 | 13.8% |
| 2024 | 12,395 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 11,996 | 14.7% |
What to check before buying a 2014 A6
On a 2014 A6, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.4% 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.
- Suspension (3.6% 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 (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2014 Audi A6s pass their MOT?
86.5% of the 62,392 2014 Audi A6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Audi A6?
Tyres, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by suspension (3.6%).
Does the 2014 A6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 15.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 62,392 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.