2015 Audi A8 — MOT failures & pass rate
5,295 MOT tests on the 2015 Audi A8 are in this dataset, and 92.8% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 14.0% of the time, so this is 6.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.9%) and brakes (1.9%) 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 malfunction indicator lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 111 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2015 A8 fails 4.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 5.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.9 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 6.9% of the time against 8.3% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.5% 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% | 206 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.9% | 103 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 76 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 45 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.8% | 43 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 27 |
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 | 111 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 65 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 54 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 32 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 26 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 25 |
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 | 17.5% | 928 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 566 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.7% | 249 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.5% | 238 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 147 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 46 |
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 | 227 | 4.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,554 | 6.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,830 | 8.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,028 | 6.5% |
| 120-150k | 431 | 6.7% |
| 150k+ | 223 | 5.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,280 | 6.9% |
| Petrol | 1,015 | 8.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,106 | 5.3% |
| 2022 | 1,096 | 8.6% |
| 2023 | 1,071 | 7.9% |
| 2024 | 1,048 | 8.0% |
| 2025 | 974 | 5.9% |
What to check before buying a 2015 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.
- 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2015 Audi A8s pass their MOT?
92.8% of the 5,295 2015 Audi A8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Audi A8?
Tyres, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by brakes (1.9%).
Does the 2015 A8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.0% in the 0-30k band to 5.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,295 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.