2000 Audi A8 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 444 MOT tests, the 2000 Audi A8 recorded a 75.7% pass rate. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (23.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (11.9%) and suspension (10.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are washers, service brake performance and catalyst emissions — washers alone was recorded 29 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.3% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 28.9% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.9% | 53 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.6% | 47 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 44 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.6% | 38 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 23 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 29 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 27 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 24 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 20 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 19 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 18 |
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 | 33.8% | 150 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.0% | 129 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 27.0% | 120 |
| 4 | Tyres | 17.6% | 78 |
| 5 | Visibility | 14.0% | 62 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.8% | 48 |
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 | 49 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 90 | 17.8% |
| 120-150k | 95 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 197 | 28.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 116 | 23.3% |
| 2022 | 99 | 24.2% |
| 2023 | 83 | 24.1% |
| 2024 | 79 | 25.3% |
| 2025 | 67 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2000 A8
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 11.9% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (11.9% 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.
- Suspension (10.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.9% 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 2000 Audi A8s pass their MOT?
75.7% of the 444 2000 Audi A8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Audi A8?
Brakes, recorded in 11.9% of tests, followed by suspension (10.6%).
Does the 2000 A8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.3% in the 60-90k band to 28.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 444 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.