2019 Audi S4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Audi S4 passed 92.5% of its 865 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.8 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 10.4%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.9%) and suspension (1.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, mounting and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 15 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 10.7% once past 60-90k — 2.2× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.8% of tests failed in 2022 against 9.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.9% | 34 |
| 2 | Suspension | 1.8% | 16 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 12 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.0% | 9 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.4% | 3 |
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 | 15 |
| 2 | Mounting | 11 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 10 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 4 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 4 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 4 |
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 | 17.8% | 154 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.6% | 109 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.9% | 60 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.0% | 35 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 27 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 272 | 4.8% |
| 30-60k | 460 | 8.3% |
| 60-90k | 112 | 10.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 210 | 4.8% |
| 2023 | 219 | 7.8% |
| 2024 | 214 | 7.9% |
| 2025 | 216 | 9.3% |
What to check before buying a 2019 S4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.9% 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.
- Suspension (1.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.4% 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 2019 Audi S4s pass their MOT?
92.5% of the 865 2019 Audi S4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Audi S4?
Tyres, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by suspension (1.8%).
Does the 2019 S4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.8% in the 0-30k band to 10.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 865 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.