2004 · 20 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2004 Audi A4 MOT pass rate and common faults

6,251 MOT tests in 2024. 59.0% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

104Above average
Passed first time59.0%
Failed or needed repairs41.0%
Typical mileage at test143,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 6,251 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.7%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.5%
  3. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault3.4%
  4. Anti-lock braking system: warning lamp indicates an ABS fault3.3%
  5. Service brake performance: excessively binding3.1%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.0%
    309 marked dangerous
  7. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.9%
  8. Position lamp: not working2.8%
  9. Stop lamp: not working2.7%
  10. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.7%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics29.2%
  2. Suspension22.2%
  3. Brakes21.7%
  4. Tyres9.1%
  5. Emissions & leaks9.1%
  6. Body & chassis8.5%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.7%
  8. Seat belts & airbags4.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn20.5%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19.8%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine19.3%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened13.0%
  5. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened9.9%

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.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 Audi A4?

In 2024, 59.0% of 2004 Audi A4 cars passed their MOT first time, across 6,251 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Audi A4?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; srs malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2004 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).