2020 Audi S5 — MOT failures & pass rate
839 MOT tests on the 2020 Audi S5 are in this dataset, and 88.7% of them passed. Against executive cars of a similar age (10.0% fail rate), the 2020 S5 comes out 1.3pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 8.6% of all tests — 7.4 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, mounting and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 31 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 S5 fails 10.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 14.0% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.7% in 2023 to 9.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.6% | 72 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 10 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 9 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.9% | 8 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.6% | 5 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 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 | 31 |
| 2 | Mounting | 12 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 9 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 9 |
| 6 | Wipers | 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 | 19.3% | 162 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.5% | 80 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.6% | 55 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.1% | 51 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 18 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.1% | 9 |
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 | 352 | 10.2% |
| 30-60k | 420 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 57 | 14.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 282 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 283 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 273 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a 2020 S5
On a 2020 S5, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (8.6% 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 (1.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2020 Audi S5s pass their MOT?
88.7% of the 839 2020 Audi S5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi S5?
Tyres, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.2%).
Does the 2020 S5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.2% in the 0-30k band to 14.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 839 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.