Audi Rs MOT pass rate & common failures
1,214 MOT tests on the Audi Rs (2008–2015) give it an 87.3% pass rate. That is 5.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 18.4%. Its most common failure areas are tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.5%) and suspension (3.4%) 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 brake pads — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 31 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.7% versus 12.3%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Rs model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 151 | 89.4% | 10.6% | Tyres |
| 2014 | 1,011 | 86.8% | 13.2% | Tyres |
| 2015 | 33 | 97.0% | 3.0% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 67 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.4% | 41 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 34 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.1% | 26 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 24 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.6% | 19 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 10 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.7% | 8 |
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 | 31 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 29 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 21 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 20 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 18 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 16 |
| 7 | Shock absorbers | 15 |
| 8 | Registration plates | 13 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 18.9% | 230 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.7% | 190 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.6% | 165 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.3% | 52 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 41 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 17 |
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 | 65 | 12.3% |
| 30-60k | 552 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 465 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 116 | 20.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 255 | 10.6% |
| 2022 | 253 | 14.6% |
| 2023 | 255 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 233 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 218 | 11.0% |
What to check before buying a Audi Rs
- Tyres (5.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (3.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 Rs?
87.3% of the 1,214 Audi Rs MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 12.7% fail rate, across model years 2008–2015.
What does the Audi Rs most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, then suspension (3.4%).
How much does mileage affect Rs MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 20.7% for 90-120k, a 8.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,214 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.