2020 Audi RS4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Audi RS4 passed 91.9% of its 1,165 recorded MOT tests. Against executive cars of a similar age (10.0% fail rate), the 2020 RS4 comes out 1.9pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 5.2% of tests against 1.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and registration plates — tread depth alone was recorded 23 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 RS4 fails 6.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.9% at 60-90k, a spread of only 2.6 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 14.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.2% | 61 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 14 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 12 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.8% | 9 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.7% | 8 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.5% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 23 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 11 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 10 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 8 |
| 6 | Wipers | 5 |
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 | 14.8% | 172 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.8% | 137 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.8% | 79 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.3% | 62 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 32 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 10 |
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 | 588 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 531 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 45 | 8.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 380 | 7.9% |
| 2024 | 386 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 388 | 8.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 RS4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.2% 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 (1.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.0% 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 2020 Audi RS4s pass their MOT?
91.9% of the 1,165 2020 Audi RS4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi RS4?
Tyres, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.2%).
Does the 2020 RS4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 8.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,165 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.