2013 Audi RS6 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Audi RS6 passed 90.1% of its 273 recorded MOT tests. That is 7.0 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 16.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, emissions & environmental and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.8%) and emissions & environmental (1.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, catalyst emissions and registration plates — tread depth alone was recorded 6 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 7.7% once past 90-120k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 13.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 14.8% in 2021 to 8.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 13 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 5 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 5 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.5% | 4 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.5% | 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 | 6 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 5 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 5 |
| 4 | Flexible brake hoses | 4 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 3 |
| 6 | Wipers | 3 |
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 | 13.9% | 38 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.7% | 32 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.7% | 21 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 9 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 7 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.1% | 3 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 98 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 112 | 8.0% |
| 90-120k | 39 | 7.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 61 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 55 | 7.3% |
| 2023 | 45 | 8.9% |
| 2024 | 56 | 8.9% |
| 2025 | 56 | 8.9% |
What to check before buying a 2013 RS6
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.8% 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 (1.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (1.8% 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
How many 2013 Audi RS6s pass their MOT?
90.1% of the 273 2013 Audi RS6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Audi RS6?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.8%).
Does the 2013 RS6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 30-60k band to 7.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 273 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.