2000 Audi Cabriolet — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2000 Audi Cabriolet passed 77.6% of its 1,093 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (26.6% fail rate), the 2000 Cabriolet comes out 4.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.2%) and suspension (8.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, joints and pins and bushes — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 78 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.8% in the 30-60k band and 34.1% in the 150k+ band, a 18.3-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.1% in 2021 to 21.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 101 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.9% | 97 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 88 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.1% | 78 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 55 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 48 |
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 | 78 |
| 2 | Joints | 57 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 48 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 33 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 33 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 32 |
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 | 35.6% | 389 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.0% | 339 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.6% | 236 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.6% | 181 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.6% | 160 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 128 |
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 | 82 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 227 | 15.9% |
| 90-120k | 472 | 22.0% |
| 120-150k | 216 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 85 | 34.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 255 | 23.1% |
| 2022 | 263 | 25.5% |
| 2023 | 213 | 21.6% |
| 2024 | 185 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 177 | 21.5% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Cabriolet
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.9% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.1% 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 2000 Audi Cabriolets pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 1,093 2000 Audi Cabriolet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Audi Cabriolet?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by suspension (8.9%).
Does the 2000 Cabriolet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 30-60k band to 34.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,093 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.