2021 Audi RS5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Audi RS5 passed 89.5% of its 660 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 8.6% of the time, so this is 1.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 8.0% of tests against 1.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and registration plates — tread depth alone was recorded 16 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.0% | 53 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 9 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 6 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.8% | 5 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.6% | 4 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.6% | 4 |
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 | 16 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 12 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 7 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 4 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 2 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 2 |
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 | 18.2% | 120 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.6% | 63 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.7% | 31 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.2% | 28 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 12 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 2 |
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 | 401 | 9.2% |
| 30-60k | 243 | 12.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 324 | 9.6% |
| 2025 | 325 | 11.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 RS5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 8.0% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (8.0% 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 (1.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (0.9% 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 2021 Audi RS5s pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 660 2021 Audi RS5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Audi RS5?
Tyres, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.4%).
Does the 2021 RS5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.2% in the 0-30k band to 12.8% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 660 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.