2004 Audi Allroad — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Audi Allroad passed 77.2% of its 622 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2004 Allroad comes out 4.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.9% of tests against 10.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, joints and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 49 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2004 Allroad fails 24.5% of the time in the 90-120k band and 23.2% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.3 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 93 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.1% | 63 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.0% | 62 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 39 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.0% | 31 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 18 |
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 | 49 |
| 2 | Joints | 37 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 34 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 27 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 27 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 26 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 35.9% | 223 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.7% | 222 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.3% | 151 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.6% | 91 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 82 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 81 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90-120k | 106 | 24.5% |
| 120-150k | 173 | 22.0% |
| 150k+ | 310 | 23.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 559 | 23.1% |
| Petrol | 63 | 20.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 188 | 21.8% |
| 2022 | 161 | 26.7% |
| 2023 | 111 | 17.1% |
| 2024 | 91 | 19.8% |
| 2025 | 71 | 29.6% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Allroad
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (10.0% 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 2004 Audi Allroads pass their MOT?
77.2% of the 622 2004 Audi Allroad MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Audi Allroad?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.9% of tests, followed by suspension (10.1%).
Does the 2004 Allroad get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.5% in the 90-120k band to 23.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 622 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.