2010 Audi S4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Audi S4 passed 85.4% of its 1,072 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 20.8% of the time, so this is 6.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.0%) and tyres (4.7%) 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 coil spring — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 47 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 24.2% versus 5.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 21.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.0% | 54 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.7% | 50 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 43 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 34 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.5% | 27 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.6% | 17 |
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 | 47 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 36 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 36 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 18 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 18 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 16 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 21.7% | 233 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.1% | 205 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.7% | 147 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.2% | 88 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 66 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 44 |
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 | 70 | 5.7% |
| 60-90k | 295 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 445 | 14.8% |
| 120-150k | 218 | 18.8% |
| 150k+ | 33 | 24.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 215 | 10.2% |
| 2022 | 219 | 16.0% |
| 2023 | 220 | 18.2% |
| 2024 | 213 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 205 | 16.1% |
What to check before buying a 2010 S4
On a 2010 S4, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (5.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (4.7% 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 (4.0% 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 2010 Audi S4s pass their MOT?
85.4% of the 1,072 2010 Audi S4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Audi S4?
Suspension, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by tyres (4.7%).
Does the 2010 S4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.7% in the 30-60k band to 24.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,072 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.