Audi Coupe MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 42 model years and 3,568 tests, the Audi Coupe passes its MOT 80.0% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (22.8% fail rate), the Coupe comes out 2.7pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.5% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and position lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 261 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.8% versus 8.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.3% in 2021 to 18.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Coupe model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 70 | 90.0% | 10.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1984 | 48 | 72.9% | 27.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1985 | 192 | 86.5% | 13.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1986 | 223 | 80.3% | 19.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 181 | 82.9% | 17.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 145 | 75.9% | 24.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 175 | 81.1% | 18.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 249 | 79.5% | 20.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 253 | 81.0% | 19.0% | Brakes |
| 1992 | 136 | 85.3% | 14.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 348 | 81.6% | 18.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 352 | 81.3% | 18.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 650 | 77.1% | 22.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 327 | 74.9% | 25.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 31 | 77.4% | 22.6% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2002 | 40 | 70.0% | 30.0% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 446 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.7% | 311 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 255 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.4% | 228 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 219 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 154 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.4% | 86 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.1% | 76 |
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 | 261 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 183 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 143 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 131 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 113 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 111 |
| 7 | Flexible brake hoses | 106 |
| 8 | Washers | 101 |
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 | 27.9% | 997 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.4% | 834 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.0% | 500 |
| 4 | Tyres | 12.9% | 459 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.6% | 413 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.3% | 369 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 96 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 203 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 453 | 18.3% |
| 90-120k | 778 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 864 | 21.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,165 | 22.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 835 | 21.3% |
| 2022 | 823 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 689 | 18.7% |
| 2024 | 629 | 19.2% |
| 2025 | 592 | 18.2% |
What to check before buying a Audi Coupe
- Lighting & signalling (12.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.7% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (7.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Audi Coupe?
80.0% of the 3,568 Audi Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.0% fail rate, across model years 1981–2022.
What does the Audi Coupe most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.5% of tests, then brakes (8.7%).
How much does mileage affect Coupe MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 22.8% for 150k+, a 14.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,568 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.