Audi RS6 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Audi RS6 appears in 7,411 MOT tests spanning model years 1999–2024, and 89.6% of them passed. That is 5.1 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 15.4%. Its most common failure areas are tyres, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.1%) 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 headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and registration plates — headlamp aim alone was recorded 142 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.3% in the 0-30k band and 14.1% in the 150k+ band, a 5.8-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 13.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.8% in 2021 to 9.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every RS6 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 67 | 82.1% | 17.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 582 | 82.1% | 17.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 305 | 86.6% | 13.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 39 | 87.2% | 12.8% | Visibility |
| 2008 | 1,058 | 87.8% | 12.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 481 | 89.8% | 10.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 87 | 97.7% | 2.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 273 | 90.1% | 9.9% | Tyres |
| 2014 | 628 | 88.5% | 11.5% | Tyres |
| 2015 | 121 | 89.3% | 10.7% | Tyres |
| 2016 | 67 | 95.5% | 4.5% | Brakes |
| 2017 | 67 | 92.5% | 7.5% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 2,041 | 92.2% | 7.8% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 1,102 | 92.0% | 8.0% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 463 | 87.9% | 12.1% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.1% | 380 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 214 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 139 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.6% | 119 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 117 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.9% | 63 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.8% | 61 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 57 |
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 | 142 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 134 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 98 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 56 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 55 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 47 |
| 7 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 44 |
| 8 | Brake pads | 40 |
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 | 13.2% | 976 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.7% | 716 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.3% | 616 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 291 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.8% | 282 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.0% | 222 |
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 | 2,411 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,933 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,293 | 11.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,045 | 13.5% |
| 120-150k | 573 | 16.1% |
| 150k+ | 156 | 14.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 803 | 12.8% |
| 2022 | 804 | 11.6% |
| 2023 | 1,455 | 10.3% |
| 2024 | 1,996 | 10.5% |
| 2025 | 2,353 | 9.0% |
What to check before buying a Audi RS6
- Tyres (5.1% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.9% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Audi RS6?
89.6% of the 7,411 Audi RS6 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 10.4% fail rate, across model years 1999–2024.
What does the Audi RS6 most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 5.1% of tests, then lighting & signalling (2.9%).
How much does mileage affect RS6 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 14.1% for 150k+, a 5.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,411 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.