2003 · 21 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2003 Audi A8 MOT pass rate and common faults

118 MOT tests in 2024. 69.5% passed first time, compared with 57.3% for all cars the same age.

121Well above average
Passed first time69.5%
Failed or needed repairs30.5%
Typical mileage at test132,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 118 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working5.1%
  2. Washers: not working3.4%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.5%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn1.7%
  5. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits1.7%
  6. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.7%
  7. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases1.7%
  8. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.7%
    3 marked dangerous
  9. Electronic parking brake: warning indicates a malfunction1.7%
  10. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam1.7%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics18.6%
  2. Brakes8.5%
  3. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.6%
  4. Tyres5.9%
  5. Suspension5.9%
  6. Emissions & leaks3.4%
  7. Body & chassis2.5%
  8. Steering0.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine15.3%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.4%
  3. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases11.0%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick9.3%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.3%

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: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All A8 years2004 A8 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2003 Audi A8?

In 2024, 69.5% of 2003 Audi A8 cars passed their MOT first time, across 118 tests. The average for all 21-year-old cars was 57.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2003 Audi A8?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; washers: not working; tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2003 Audi A8 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).