2008 · 16 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2008 Audi A5 MOT pass rate and common faults

3,697 MOT tests in 2024. 69.7% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

122Well above average
Passed first time69.7%
Failed or needed repairs30.3%
Typical mileage at test130,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 3,697 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.7%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.1%
    203 marked dangerous
  3. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.7%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.6%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.5%
  6. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.4%
    126 marked dangerous
  7. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.0%
  8. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.0%
    106 marked dangerous
  9. Headlamp aim: too low1.8%
  10. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.6%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics14.5%
  2. Suspension13.7%
  3. Tyres10.0%
  4. Brakes7.7%
  5. Emissions & leaks5.9%
  6. Body & chassis5.8%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.8%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.6%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn19.8%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine10.0%
  4. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened9.6%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.5%

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: coil spring: fractured or broken. 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 2008 Audi A5?

In 2024, 69.7% of 2008 Audi A5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 3,697 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 Audi A5?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2008 Audi A5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 122, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).