Audi A4 vs BMW 5 Series
On MOT-testable defects the BMW 5 Series comes out ahead: 15.7% of its tests record a failure against 18.7% for the Audi A4, a 2.9-point gap. The biggest single difference is body, structure & corrosion, where the A4 records failures noticeably more often.
18.7%
A4 fail rate
15.7%
5 Series fail rate
2.94pp
Difference
Side by side
| Metric | Audi A4 | BMW 5 Series |
|---|---|---|
| MOT tests analysed | 1,591,058 | 1,245,662 |
| Pass rate | 81.3% | 84.3% |
| Fail rate | 18.7% | 15.7% |
Where they differ
| Category | A4 | 5 Series |
|---|---|---|
| Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 0.0% |
| Visibility | 0.0% | 2.6% |
| Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 5.3% |
| Suspension | 7.5% | 5.5% |
| Brakes | 4.6% | 3.4% |
| Tyres | 6.4% | 6.2% |
Methodology & source. 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.