2015 Audi A6 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 64,388 MOT tests, the 2015 Audi A6 recorded an 88.4% pass rate. That is 2.5 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 14.0%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests against 2.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, malfunction indicator lamp and joints — tread depth alone was recorded 2,332 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.9% in the 0-30k band and 13.2% in the 150k+ band, a 7.3-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 7.1% fail against 11.8% for diesel, a 4.7-point gap across 64,388 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 3,636 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.5% | 1,599 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 1,319 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 1,301 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 1,074 |
| 6 | Brakes | 1.6% | 1,001 |
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 | 2,332 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,239 |
| 3 | Joints | 976 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 963 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 922 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 796 |
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 | 22.0% | 14,171 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.1% | 7,785 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.5% | 7,416 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.1% | 4,562 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 2,558 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 1,227 |
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 | 1,037 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 12,325 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 23,007 | 11.3% |
| 90-120k | 16,347 | 13.0% |
| 120-150k | 7,692 | 13.6% |
| 150k+ | 3,973 | 13.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 60,611 | 11.8% |
| Petrol | 3,777 | 7.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,113 | 9.7% |
| 2022 | 13,040 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 12,851 | 11.5% |
| 2024 | 12,836 | 12.9% |
| 2025 | 12,548 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2015 A6
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.7% 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 (2.5% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2015 Audi A6s pass their MOT?
88.4% of the 64,388 2015 Audi A6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Audi A6?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by suspension (2.5%).
Does the 2015 A6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 13.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 64,388 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.