2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 Audi A5 MOT pass rate and common faults

9,060 MOT tests in 2024. 74.1% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

115Well above average
Passed first time74.1%
Failed or needed repairs25.9%
Typical mileage at test104,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 9,060 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.6%
    528 marked dangerous
  2. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.6%
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.8%
    360 marked dangerous
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.2%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.8%
    225 marked dangerous
  6. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.7%
  7. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.6%
  8. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.2%
  9. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.1%
  10. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure1.0%
    150 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Tyres11.0%
  2. Lights & electrics10.3%
  3. Suspension6.9%
  4. Body & chassis5.2%
  5. Brakes5.2%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.9%
  7. Emissions & leaks1.8%
  8. Number plates & VIN0.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.2%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.0%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.9%
  4. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak8.8%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened7.1%

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: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. 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 2012 Audi A5?

In 2024, 74.1% of 2012 Audi A5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 9,060 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Audi A5?

The most common failure reasons were tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was tyres.

Is the 2012 Audi A5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 115, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).