2023 Audi A8 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 313 MOT tests, the 2023 Audi A8 recorded a 97.4% pass rate. That is 2.8 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 5.3%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.2%) and lighting & signalling (1.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 5 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2023 A8 fails 0.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 0.0% at 60-90k, a spread of only 0.7 points.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.2% | 7 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 4 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.6% | 2 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 5 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 3 |
| 3 | Washers | 2 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1 |
| 5 | Front fog lamps | 1 |
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 | 6.7% | 21 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.6% | 8 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.3% | 4 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.6% | 2 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.3% | 1 |
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 | 137 | 0.7% |
| 30-60k | 92 | 3.3% |
| 60-90k | 55 | 0.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 269 | 3.0% |
| Diesel | 42 | 0.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 33 | 3.0% |
| 2024 | 123 | 1.6% |
| 2025 | 157 | 3.2% |
What to check before buying a 2023 A8
On a 2023 A8, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (2.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.6% 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.
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 2023 Audi A8s pass their MOT?
97.4% of the 313 2023 Audi A8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 2.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Audi A8?
Tyres, recorded in 2.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.3%).
Does the 2023 A8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 0.7% in the 0-30k band to 0.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 313 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.