2004 Audi RS6 — MOT failures & pass rate
305 MOT tests on the 2004 Audi RS6 are in this dataset, and 86.6% of them passed. That is 10.9 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.9%) and tyres (4.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 12 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2004 RS6 fails 14.7% of the time in the 60-90k band and 13.2% at 120-150k, a spread of only 1.6 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 25.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.3% in 2021 to 9.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 18 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.9% | 15 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.6% | 11 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 10 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.9% | 9 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 9 |
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 | 12 |
| 2 | Wipers | 7 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 7 |
| 4 | Joints | 6 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 6 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 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 | Brakes | 25.6% | 78 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.6% | 66 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.0% | 55 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.4% | 44 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 36 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 22 |
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 | 68 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 107 | 13.1% |
| 120-150k | 76 | 13.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 60 | 13.3% |
| 2022 | 67 | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 66 | 13.6% |
| 2024 | 57 | 15.8% |
| 2025 | 55 | 9.1% |
What to check before buying a 2004 RS6
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.9% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (3.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2004 Audi RS6s pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 305 2004 Audi RS6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Audi RS6?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by tyres (4.9%).
Does the 2004 RS6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.7% in the 60-90k band to 13.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 305 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.