2021 Audi A6 — MOT failures & pass rate
10,295 MOT tests on the 2021 Audi A6 are in this dataset, and 92.5% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 9.8% of the time, so this is 2.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 4.9% of all tests — 3.7 points clear of emissions & environmental, 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 333 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 A6 fails 6.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.5% at 120-150k, a spread of only 3.8 points.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.9pp more often than hybrid ones (8.4% vs 4.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 2.0% of tests failed in 2022 against 7.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.9% | 507 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 126 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.0% | 107 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 101 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.8% | 86 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 45 |
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 | 333 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 108 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 96 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 80 |
| 5 | Wipers | 65 |
| 6 | Washers | 46 |
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 | 19.6% | 2,020 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.8% | 798 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.6% | 676 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.1% | 425 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.9% | 403 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.3% | 34 |
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 | 3,900 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 5,124 | 7.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,002 | 9.6% |
| 90-120k | 201 | 8.5% |
| 120-150k | 57 | 10.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,558 | 8.4% |
| Petrol | 3,618 | 6.8% |
| Hybrid | 1,119 | 4.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 50 | 2.0% |
| 2023 | 255 | 4.7% |
| 2024 | 5,078 | 7.8% |
| 2025 | 4,890 | 7.2% |
What to check before buying a 2021 A6
On a 2021 A6, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- 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 2021 Audi A6s pass their MOT?
92.5% of the 10,295 2021 Audi A6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Audi A6?
Tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.2%).
Does the 2021 A6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 10.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,295 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.