2019 Audi A6 — MOT failures & pass rate
40,307 MOT tests on the 2019 Audi A6 are in this dataset, and 91.4% of them passed. Against executive cars of a similar age (10.3% fail rate), the 2019 A6 comes out 1.7pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests against 1.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 1,632 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2019 A6 fails 6.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.5 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 7.3% of the time against 8.7% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 2,222 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.5% | 597 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.0% | 406 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.9% | 345 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 348 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 312 |
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 | 1,632 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 604 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 314 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 302 |
| 5 | Wipers | 253 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 228 |
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 | 21.3% | 8,577 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.6% | 5,092 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.9% | 2,765 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.1% | 2,064 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 1,699 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 145 |
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 | 10,130 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 19,917 | 8.9% |
| 60-90k | 7,661 | 10.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,926 | 9.1% |
| 120-150k | 467 | 9.0% |
| 150k+ | 205 | 7.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 37,172 | 8.7% |
| Petrol | 3,130 | 7.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 543 | 4.6% |
| 2022 | 10,581 | 8.2% |
| 2023 | 10,077 | 8.3% |
| 2024 | 9,601 | 8.7% |
| 2025 | 9,505 | 9.4% |
What to check before buying a 2019 A6
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.5% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.5% 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.
- Brakes (1.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Visibility (1.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2019 Audi A6s pass their MOT?
91.4% of the 40,307 2019 Audi A6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Audi A6?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by brakes (1.5%).
Does the 2019 A6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 7.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 40,307 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.