2016 Audi A6 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Audi A6 passed 89.1% of its 74,978 recorded MOT tests. Against executive cars of a similar age (12.7% fail rate), the 2016 A6 comes out 1.8pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 5.7% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, malfunction indicator lamp and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 2,592 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.7% in the 0-30k band and 13.9% in the 150k+ band, a 7.2-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.8pp more often than petrol ones (11.0% vs 9.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 4,295 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 1,376 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.7% | 1,299 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 1,282 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.5% | 1,141 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 1,047 |
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 | 2,592 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,162 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 994 |
| 4 | Joints | 931 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 929 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 793 |
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 | 21.7% | 16,276 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 9,220 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.3% | 6,949 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.2% | 5,421 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 2,849 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 961 |
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 | 2,423 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 23,080 | 9.1% |
| 60-90k | 27,367 | 11.4% |
| 90-120k | 14,363 | 12.1% |
| 120-150k | 5,300 | 12.7% |
| 150k+ | 2,436 | 13.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 70,699 | 11.0% |
| Petrol | 4,279 | 9.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,231 | 8.8% |
| 2022 | 15,145 | 10.0% |
| 2023 | 15,077 | 11.0% |
| 2024 | 14,920 | 12.1% |
| 2025 | 14,605 | 12.4% |
What to check before buying a 2016 A6
On a 2016 A6, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (1.7% 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.
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 2016 Audi A6s pass their MOT?
89.1% of the 74,978 2016 Audi A6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Audi A6?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.8%).
Does the 2016 A6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 13.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 74,978 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.