1996 · 28 years old at test · Petrol mostly

1996 Audi A4 MOT pass rate and common faults

172 MOT tests in 2024. 69.2% passed first time, compared with 66.2% for all cars the same age.

104Above average
Passed first time69.2%
Failed or needed repairs30.8%
Typical mileage at test146,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 172 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt7.0%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.1%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.5%
    15 marked dangerous
  4. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.9%
  5. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.9%
  6. Stop lamp: not working2.9%
  7. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.9%
  8. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits2.9%
  9. Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits2.3%
  10. Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits2.3%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension19.2%
  2. Lights & electrics19.2%
  3. Body & chassis12.8%
  4. Emissions & leaks12.2%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.4%
  6. Brakes6.4%
  7. Tyres5.8%
  8. Steering5.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened24.4%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine21.5%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded15.7%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.0%
  5. Wheel bearings: has excessive play11.0%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All A4 years1997 A4 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 1996 Audi A4?

In 2024, 69.2% of 1996 Audi A4 cars passed their MOT first time, across 172 tests. The average for all 28-year-old cars was 66.2%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 1996 Audi A4?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 1996 Audi A4 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 104, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).