2008 Audi S5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,694 MOT tests, the 2008 Audi S5 recorded an 82.6% pass rate. That is 5.1 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.5%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.8%) and tyres (5.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — coil spring alone was recorded 73 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 22.7% versus 11.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.0% in 2021 to 18.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.8% | 132 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.6% | 95 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.4% | 91 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 65 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 54 |
| 6 | Brakes | 3.1% | 52 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 73 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 66 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 60 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 41 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 41 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 38 |
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 | 27.3% | 462 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.7% | 385 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.0% | 255 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 11.3% | 191 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.8% | 133 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 110 |
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 | 126 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 458 | 17.9% |
| 90-120k | 707 | 17.4% |
| 120-150k | 329 | 17.6% |
| 150k+ | 66 | 22.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 411 | 20.0% |
| 2022 | 342 | 14.3% |
| 2023 | 324 | 15.1% |
| 2024 | 327 | 19.0% |
| 2025 | 290 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a 2008 S5
On a 2008 S5, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (7.8% 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.
- Tyres (5.6% 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 (5.4% 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 2008 Audi S5s pass their MOT?
82.6% of the 1,694 2008 Audi S5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Audi S5?
Suspension, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by tyres (5.6%).
Does the 2008 S5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.9% in the 30-60k band to 22.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,694 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.