2004 Audi A8 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Audi A8 passed 83.2% of its 1,485 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 24.3% of the time, so this is 7.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.8%) and suspension (6.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and tread depth — pins and bushes alone was recorded 77 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 2.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 15.7% once past 150k — 5.8× the risk.
The diesel cars hold up better: 15.8% fail against 17.6% for petrol, a 1.8-point gap across 1,485 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 25.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 116 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.1% | 91 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.2% | 77 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.7% | 69 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 63 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 60 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 77 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 76 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 41 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 40 |
| 5 | Washers | 39 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 38 |
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 | 25.3% | 375 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.1% | 373 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.0% | 371 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 218 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 133 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 132 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 37 | 2.7% |
| 60-90k | 179 | 14.5% |
| 90-120k | 333 | 18.9% |
| 120-150k | 389 | 18.8% |
| 150k+ | 540 | 15.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 771 | 17.6% |
| Diesel | 714 | 15.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 413 | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 354 | 17.2% |
| 2023 | 306 | 17.3% |
| 2024 | 227 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 185 | 14.6% |
What to check before buying a 2004 A8
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.1% 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.
- Brakes (5.2% 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.
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 2004 Audi A8s pass their MOT?
83.2% of the 1,485 2004 Audi A8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Audi A8?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by suspension (6.1%).
Does the 2004 A8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.7% in the 30-60k band to 15.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,485 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.