2014 Audi RS4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Audi RS4 passed 89.5% of its 1,094 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 15.5% of the time, so this is 4.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.6%) and lighting & signalling (2.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp and catalyst emissions — brake pads alone was recorded 18 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.9% once past 90-120k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 16.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.6% | 61 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 32 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.0% | 22 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.4% | 15 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 14 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 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 | Brake pads | 18 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 17 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 14 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 12 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 9 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 8 |
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 | 16.4% | 180 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.6% | 171 |
| 3 | Tyres | 14.9% | 163 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.5% | 49 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 32 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 9 |
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 | 55 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 453 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 474 | 11.2% |
| 90-120k | 101 | 13.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 230 | 10.0% |
| 2022 | 221 | 12.7% |
| 2023 | 217 | 10.6% |
| 2024 | 216 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 210 | 8.6% |
What to check before buying a 2014 RS4
On a 2014 RS4, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.0% 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 2014 Audi RS4s pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 1,094 2014 Audi RS4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Audi RS4?
Tyres, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.9%).
Does the 2014 RS4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 0-30k band to 13.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,094 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.