1986 Audi Quattro — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1986 Audi Quattro passed 87.2% of its 329 recorded MOT tests. That is 7.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.8% of all tests — 3.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are non catalyst emissions, flexible brake hoses and headlamp aim — non catalyst emissions alone was recorded 12 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1986 Quattro fails 15.5% of the time in the 60-90k band and 13.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 11.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.9% in 2021 to 12.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 29 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.8% | 19 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 15 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 10 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 8 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.5% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non catalyst emissions | 12 |
| 2 | Flexible brake hoses | 10 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 4 | Wipers | 8 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 7 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 6 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.8% | 39 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.0% | 33 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.3% | 24 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 22 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 13 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 11 |
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 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 86 | 9.3% |
| 120-150k | 97 | 13.4% |
| 150k+ | 66 | 13.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 57 | 3.5% |
| 2023 | 60 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 76 | 11.8% |
| 2025 | 63 | 12.7% |
What to check before buying a 1986 Quattro
On a 1986 Quattro, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.8% 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 (4.6% 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
How many 1986 Audi Quattros pass their MOT?
87.2% of the 329 1986 Audi Quattro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 Audi Quattro?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by brakes (5.8%).
Does the 1986 Quattro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.5% in the 60-90k band to 13.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 329 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.