2020 Audi A6 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 12,034 MOT tests, the 2020 Audi A6 recorded a 92.6% pass rate. Against executive cars of a similar age (10.0% fail rate), the 2020 A6 comes out 2.6pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests against 1.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 405 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.7% in the 0-30k band and 10.5% in the 120-150k band, a 4.9-point spread.
The hybrid cars hold up better: 5.5% fail against 7.8% for diesel, a 2.3-point gap across 9,317 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 1.5% of tests failed in 2022 against 8.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.9% | 590 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.1% | 133 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 127 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.9% | 114 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 78 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 50 |
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 | 405 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 121 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 109 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 71 |
| 5 | Washers | 59 |
| 6 | Wipers | 57 |
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 | 19.8% | 2,381 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.1% | 1,220 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.3% | 762 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.9% | 591 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 458 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.3% | 37 |
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 | 3,767 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 6,119 | 8.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,688 | 8.6% |
| 90-120k | 362 | 9.7% |
| 120-150k | 76 | 10.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,232 | 7.8% |
| Petrol | 2,717 | 6.9% |
| Hybrid | 1,085 | 5.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 259 | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 4,166 | 7.5% |
| 2024 | 3,864 | 7.2% |
| 2025 | 3,721 | 8.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 A6
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.9% 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 (1.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.1% 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 2020 Audi A6s pass their MOT?
92.6% of the 12,034 2020 Audi A6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi A6?
Tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by brakes (1.1%).
Does the 2020 A6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.7% in the 0-30k band to 10.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,034 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.