Audi RS5 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Audi RS5 appears in 1,664 MOT tests spanning model years 2008–2023, and 89.4% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (10.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are tyres, emissions & environmental and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 6.7% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and registration plates — headlamp aim alone was recorded 30 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.6% in the 0-30k band and 14.5% in the 60-90k band, a 4.9-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 15.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.4% in 2021 to 10.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every RS5 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 34 | 85.3% | 14.7% | Tyres |
| 2013 | 54 | 88.9% | 11.1% | Tyres |
| 2014 | 75 | 92.0% | 8.0% | Tyres |
| 2015 | 30 | 86.7% | 13.3% | Suspension |
| 2020 | 406 | 90.1% | 9.8% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 660 | 89.5% | 10.4% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 279 | 90.7% | 9.3% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.7% | 112 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 28 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 26 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.0% | 17 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.8% | 14 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.7% | 12 |
| 7 | Brakes | 0.7% | 11 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 30 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 29 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 26 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 18 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 11 |
| 6 | Washers | 8 |
| 7 | Brake pads | 7 |
| 8 | Shock absorbers | 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 | Tyres | 15.9% | 264 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.4% | 157 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.5% | 92 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.6% | 77 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 39 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 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 | 876 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 634 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 131 | 14.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 49 | 18.4% |
| 2022 | 49 | 10.2% |
| 2023 | 193 | 9.3% |
| 2024 | 555 | 10.3% |
| 2025 | 818 | 10.8% |
What to check before buying a Audi RS5
- Tyres (6.7% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (1.6% 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 RS5?
89.4% of the 1,664 Audi RS5 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 10.6% fail rate, across model years 2008–2023.
What does the Audi RS5 most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 6.7% of tests, then emissions & environmental (1.7%).
How much does mileage affect RS5 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 9.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 14.5% for 60-90k, a 4.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,664 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.