2003 · 21 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2003 Audi A4 MOT pass rate and common faults

3,649 MOT tests in 2024. 58.3% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

102About average
Passed first time58.3%
Failed or needed repairs41.7%
Typical mileage at test143,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 3,649 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.3%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.6%
  3. Anti-lock braking system: warning lamp indicates an ABS fault4.2%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.5%
    228 marked dangerous
  5. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated3.3%
  6. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.9%
  7. Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.7%
  8. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.7%
  9. Stop lamp: not working2.7%
  10. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.6%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics29.5%
  2. Suspension25.0%
  3. Brakes22.2%
  4. Tyres8.2%
  5. Emissions & leaks8.0%
  6. Body & chassis7.3%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.6%
  8. Steering3.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm21.8%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn21.5%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine20.4%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened14.2%
  5. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened11.2%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush 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 2003 Audi A4?

In 2024, 58.3% of 2003 Audi A4 cars passed their MOT first time, across 3,649 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 Audi A4?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; anti-lock braking system: warning lamp indicates an abs fault. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2003 Audi A4 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 102, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).