2012 Audi TT — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 31,946 MOT tests, the 2012 Audi TT recorded an 87.3% pass rate. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (16.3% fail rate), the 2012 TT comes out 3.6pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.9%) and lighting & signalling (4.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, service brake performance and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 1,158 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.3% in the 0-30k band and 20.7% in the 150k+ band, a 13.4-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 12.3% of the time against 13.6% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.9% | 1,579 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 1,354 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.1% | 994 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.6% | 838 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 827 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 354 |
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 | 1,158 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 474 |
| 3 | Washers | 471 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 459 |
| 5 | Wipers | 438 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 393 |
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 | 24.1% | 7,682 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 4,513 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.6% | 3,392 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.2% | 1,348 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 1,071 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,052 |
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 | 1,407 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 9,024 | 9.5% |
| 60-90k | 12,586 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 6,547 | 16.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,868 | 18.1% |
| 150k+ | 512 | 20.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 20,919 | 12.3% |
| Diesel | 11,019 | 13.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,302 | 10.5% |
| 2022 | 6,390 | 11.5% |
| 2023 | 6,471 | 13.0% |
| 2024 | 6,441 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 6,342 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a 2012 TT
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2012 Audi TTs pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 31,946 2012 Audi TT MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Audi TT?
Tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.2%).
Does the 2012 TT get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 20.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,946 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.