2003 Audi RS6 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Audi RS6 passed 82.1% of its 582 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.5 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.9%) and emissions & environmental (7.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 39 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2003 RS6 fails 13.6% of the time in the 60-90k band and 15.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.1 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 26.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 46 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 7.2% | 42 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.4% | 37 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 28 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.0% | 23 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.3% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 39 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 20 |
| 4 | Joints | 19 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 13 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 11 |
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 | 26.6% | 155 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.7% | 109 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.4% | 107 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.9% | 81 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 59 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 42 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 110 | 13.6% |
| 90-120k | 208 | 17.8% |
| 120-150k | 175 | 22.9% |
| 150k+ | 70 | 15.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 130 | 19.2% |
| 2022 | 133 | 17.3% |
| 2023 | 115 | 14.8% |
| 2024 | 109 | 19.3% |
| 2025 | 95 | 18.9% |
What to check before buying a 2003 RS6
On a 2003 RS6, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (7.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (6.4% 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 2003 Audi RS6s pass their MOT?
82.1% of the 582 2003 Audi RS6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Audi RS6?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.9% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (7.2%).
Does the 2003 RS6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.6% in the 60-90k band to 15.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 582 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.