1999 Audi A8 — MOT failures & pass rate
414 MOT tests on the 1999 Audi A8 are in this dataset, and 75.8% of them passed. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (23.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (13.0%) and lighting & signalling (11.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are washers, wipers and catalyst emissions — washers alone was recorded 28 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.0% in the 60-90k band and 24.2% in the 150k+ band, a 14.2-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.4% in 2021 to 23.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 13.0% | 54 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 49 |
| 3 | Visibility | 9.2% | 38 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.0% | 33 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 22 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 28 |
| 2 | Wipers | 23 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 21 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 18 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 17 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 37.2% | 154 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.4% | 130 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.8% | 78 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.6% | 73 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.6% | 52 |
| 6 | Steering | 11.3% | 47 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 30 | 10.0% |
| 90-120k | 66 | 28.8% |
| 120-150k | 117 | 23.1% |
| 150k+ | 178 | 24.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 110 | 26.4% |
| 2022 | 103 | 23.3% |
| 2023 | 74 | 21.6% |
| 2024 | 68 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 59 | 23.7% |
What to check before buying a 1999 A8
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 13.0% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (13.0% 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 (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (9.2% 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 1999 Audi A8s pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 414 1999 Audi A8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Audi A8?
Brakes, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.8%).
Does the 1999 A8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 60-90k band to 24.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 414 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.