2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 Audi A6 MOT pass rate and common faults

7,954 MOT tests in 2024. 77.9% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

121Well above average
Passed first time77.9%
Failed or needed repairs22.1%
Typical mileage at test123,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 7,954 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.6%
    469 marked dangerous
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.6%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.4%
  4. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.4%
    154 marked dangerous
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.1%
    136 marked dangerous
  6. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.0%
  7. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.0%
  8. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt0.8%
  9. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam0.8%
  10. Headlamp aim: too high0.7%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics8.3%
  2. Tyres8.2%
  3. Suspension7.8%
  4. Brakes3.5%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.8%
  6. Body & chassis2.4%
  7. Emissions & leaks1.4%
  8. Seat belts & airbags0.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19.5%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn11.6%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.6%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened6.0%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure3.4%

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.

← 2011 A6All A6 years2013 A6 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Audi A6?

In 2024, 77.9% of 2012 Audi A6 cars passed their MOT first time, across 7,954 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Audi A6?

The most common failure reasons were tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2012 Audi A6 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 121, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).