1994 Audi Cabriolet — MOT failures & pass rate
543 MOT tests on the 1994 Audi Cabriolet are in this dataset, and 74.4% of them passed. That is 1.7 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.3%) and emissions & environmental (10.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, pins and bushes and joints — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 80 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 32.5% versus 25.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.5% in 2021 to 21.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 72 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 10.3% | 56 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 53 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.7% | 42 |
| 5 | Suspension | 7.7% | 42 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.6% | 36 |
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 | 80 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 27 |
| 3 | Joints | 25 |
| 4 | Wipers | 23 |
| 5 | Washers | 22 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 19 |
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 | 39.8% | 216 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.8% | 162 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.5% | 122 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.0% | 76 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.8% | 75 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.6% | 74 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 31 | 25.8% |
| 60-90k | 101 | 18.8% |
| 90-120k | 197 | 29.4% |
| 120-150k | 117 | 21.4% |
| 150k+ | 83 | 32.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 136 | 26.5% |
| 2022 | 145 | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 109 | 23.8% |
| 2024 | 79 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 74 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 1994 Cabriolet
On a 1994 Cabriolet, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (10.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.8% 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 1994 Audi Cabriolets pass their MOT?
74.4% of the 543 1994 Audi Cabriolet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Audi Cabriolet?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (10.3%).
Does the 1994 Cabriolet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.8% in the 30-60k band to 32.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 543 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.