1997 · 27 years old at test · Petrol mostly

1997 Audi A4 MOT pass rate and common faults

264 MOT tests in 2024. 62.1% passed first time, compared with 65.5% for all cars the same age.

95Below average
Passed first time62.1%
Failed or needed repairs37.9%
Typical mileage at test153,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 264 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn6.4%
  2. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt6.1%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.8%
    24 marked dangerous
  4. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.0%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.7%
  6. Stop lamp: not working2.7%
  7. Wheel bearings: has excessive play2.3%
  8. Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits2.3%
  9. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits2.3%
  10. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated2.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension21.6%
  2. Lights & electrics21.2%
  3. Brakes16.3%
  4. Body & chassis12.5%
  5. Emissions & leaks11.4%
  6. Tyres7.2%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.8%
  8. Steering6.1%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine25.4%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened16.7%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.8%
  4. Wheel bearings: has excessive play14.4%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn12.5%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 1997 Audi A4?

In 2024, 62.1% of 1997 Audi A4 cars passed their MOT first time, across 264 tests. The average for all 27-year-old cars was 65.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 1997 Audi A4?

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

Is the 1997 Audi A4 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 95, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).