1995 Audi Cabriolet — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 894 MOT tests, the 1995 Audi Cabriolet recorded a 72.6% pass rate. That is 3.1 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.6%) and emissions & environmental (11.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and flexible brake hoses — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 142 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1995 Cabriolet fails 27.8% of the time in the 30-60k band and 25.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.0 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 113 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 11.4% | 102 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.2% | 82 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.7% | 78 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 76 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.8% | 52 |
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 | 142 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 51 |
| 3 | Flexible brake hoses | 44 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 40 |
| 5 | Wipers | 38 |
| 6 | Washers | 34 |
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 | 34.2% | 306 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.6% | 274 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.8% | 186 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.8% | 159 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 134 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.3% | 92 |
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 | 36 | 27.8% |
| 60-90k | 149 | 25.5% |
| 90-120k | 339 | 26.0% |
| 120-150k | 265 | 30.6% |
| 150k+ | 101 | 25.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 241 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 208 | 28.8% |
| 2023 | 168 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 135 | 23.7% |
| 2025 | 142 | 27.5% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Cabriolet
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (11.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (9.2% 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.
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 1995 Audi Cabriolets pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 894 1995 Audi Cabriolet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Audi Cabriolet?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (11.4%).
Does the 1995 Cabriolet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.8% in the 30-60k band to 25.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 894 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.