1993 Audi Cabriolet — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 421 MOT tests, the 1993 Audi Cabriolet recorded a 74.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (23.5% fail rate), the 1993 Cabriolet comes out 2.2pp worse. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (12.3%) and lighting & signalling (10.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and joints — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 68 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 17.0% versus 27.6%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.3% in 2021 to 18.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 12.3% | 52 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 46 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 40 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.5% | 40 |
| 5 | Brakes | 9.3% | 39 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.5% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 68 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 24 |
| 3 | Joints | 20 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 19 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 6 | Washers | 14 |
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 | 39.2% | 165 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.3% | 115 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.4% | 86 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.1% | 76 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.9% | 71 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.2% | 47 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 58 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 174 | 26.4% |
| 120-150k | 118 | 28.0% |
| 150k+ | 47 | 17.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 119 | 30.3% |
| 2022 | 98 | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 74 | 23.0% |
| 2024 | 64 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 66 | 18.2% |
What to check before buying a 1993 Cabriolet
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 12.3% of tests. Start there.
- Emissions & environmental (12.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1993 Audi Cabriolets pass their MOT?
74.4% of the 421 1993 Audi Cabriolet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Audi Cabriolet?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.9%).
Does the 1993 Cabriolet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.6% in the 60-90k band to 17.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 421 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.