2016 Audi A8 — MOT failures & pass rate
4,868 MOT tests on the 2016 Audi A8 are in this dataset, and 93.3% of them passed. Against executive cars of a similar age (12.7% fail rate), the 2016 A8 comes out 6.0pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.8%) and brakes (1.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, malfunction indicator lamp and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 79 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2016 A8 fails 4.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.5 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 6.3% of the time against 6.8% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.8% | 187 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.4% | 69 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 61 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 41 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.6% | 31 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 24 |
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 | 79 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 50 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 48 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 28 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 26 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 24 |
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 | 16.4% | 799 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.9% | 435 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.9% | 236 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.0% | 146 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 113 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 43 |
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 | 350 | 4.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,900 | 6.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,474 | 7.2% |
| 90-120k | 628 | 8.3% |
| 120-150k | 291 | 5.8% |
| 150k+ | 222 | 6.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,755 | 6.8% |
| Petrol | 1,113 | 6.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,014 | 7.0% |
| 2022 | 978 | 4.8% |
| 2023 | 968 | 6.9% |
| 2024 | 970 | 7.2% |
| 2025 | 938 | 7.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 A8
On a 2016 A8, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.8% 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 (1.4% 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 (1.3% 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 2016 Audi A8s pass their MOT?
93.3% of the 4,868 2016 Audi A8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Audi A8?
Tyres, recorded in 3.8% of tests, followed by brakes (1.4%).
Does the 2016 A8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.3% in the 0-30k band to 6.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,868 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.