2013 Audi A8 — MOT failures & pass rate
4,122 MOT tests on the 2013 Audi A8 are in this dataset, and 91.7% of them passed. Against executive cars of a similar age (16.9% fail rate), the 2013 A8 comes out 8.6pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.9%) and lighting & signalling (2.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 113 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 A8 fails 6.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.0% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.3 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.9% | 161 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 93 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.9% | 80 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.5% | 61 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.2% | 49 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 35 |
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 | 113 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 50 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 39 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 36 |
| 5 | Wipers | 28 |
| 6 | Washers | 27 |
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 | 20.2% | 834 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.6% | 476 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.0% | 330 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.7% | 236 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 154 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 123 |
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 | 90 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 643 | 5.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,182 | 8.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,125 | 8.4% |
| 120-150k | 620 | 10.0% |
| 150k+ | 461 | 10.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,687 | 8.4% |
| Petrol | 388 | 7.0% |
| Hybrid | 47 | 8.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 876 | 7.3% |
| 2022 | 869 | 7.7% |
| 2023 | 839 | 8.6% |
| 2024 | 790 | 9.9% |
| 2025 | 748 | 8.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 A8
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.9% 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.
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 2013 Audi A8s pass their MOT?
91.7% of the 4,122 2013 Audi A8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Audi A8?
Tyres, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.3%).
Does the 2013 A8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 10.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,122 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.