2001 Audi RS4 — MOT failures & pass rate
512 MOT tests on the 2001 Audi RS4 are in this dataset, and 87.7% of them passed. That is 11.7 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 9.4% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and coil spring — position lamp alone was recorded 22 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2001 RS4 fails 8.6% of the time in the 60-90k band and 9.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 16.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.2% in 2021 to 10.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 48 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.5% | 28 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.5% | 23 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 16 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 15 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.9% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 22 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 16 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 15 |
| 5 | Joints | 13 |
| 6 | Headlamp levelling device | 10 |
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 | 16.0% | 82 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.4% | 74 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.1% | 57 |
| 4 | Tyres | 9.4% | 48 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 34 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 33 |
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 | 105 | 8.6% |
| 90-120k | 182 | 13.2% |
| 120-150k | 133 | 16.5% |
| 150k+ | 73 | 9.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 112 | 15.2% |
| 2022 | 113 | 11.5% |
| 2023 | 99 | 10.1% |
| 2024 | 104 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 84 | 10.7% |
What to check before buying a 2001 RS4
On a 2001 RS4, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.5% 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.
- Brakes (4.5% 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.
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 2001 Audi RS4s pass their MOT?
87.7% of the 512 2001 Audi RS4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Audi RS4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.4% of tests, followed by suspension (5.5%).
Does the 2001 RS4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 60-90k band to 9.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 512 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.