2020 Audi A8 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,337 MOT tests, the 2020 Audi A8 recorded a 93.5% pass rate. That is 3.3 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.8%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests against 1.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, registration plates and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 26 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 A8 fails 7.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.8% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.6 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 0.0% of tests failed in 2022 against 6.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 56 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.1% | 14 |
| 3 | Brakes | 0.8% | 10 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 8 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 8 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.5% | 7 |
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 | 26 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 14 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 10 |
| 4 | Washers | 8 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 8 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 7 |
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 | 15.1% | 202 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.3% | 111 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.0% | 53 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 35 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.3% | 4 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 4 |
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 | 428 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 654 | 6.3% |
| 60-90k | 173 | 5.2% |
| 90-120k | 61 | 9.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,024 | 6.3% |
| Petrol | 239 | 7.1% |
| Hybrid | 74 | 6.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 36 | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 436 | 7.6% |
| 2024 | 419 | 6.0% |
| 2025 | 423 | 6.4% |
What to check before buying a 2020 A8
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.2% 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.
- Visibility (1.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (0.8% 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 2020 Audi A8s pass their MOT?
93.5% of the 1,337 2020 Audi A8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi A8?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by visibility (1.1%).
Does the 2020 A8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 9.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,337 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.