Comparison · executive cars

Audi A4 vs Volkswagen Passat: which is more reliable?

The Audi A4 does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 104 for the Volkswagen Passat, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 430,653 real MOT tests in 2024.

Audi A4

106Above average

MOT tests244,655

Volkswagen Passat

104Above average

MOT tests185,998

By age

MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).

Age at test	Audi A4	Volkswagen Passat
3–5 years	102About average	102About average
6–9 years	102Above average	104Above average
10–14 years	110Well above average	103Above average
15+ years	109Well above average	105Above average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Audi A4	Volkswagen Passat
2021	87.7%	86.6%
2020	88.6%	88.7%
2019	86.5%	86.9%
2018	83.5%	85.5%
2017	81.1%	81.9%
2016	78.5%	79.9%
2015	75.7%	78.0%
2014	73.9%	71.6%
2013	72.9%	68.0%
2012	71.3%	65.7%
2011	69.4%	64.6%
2010	67.7%	62.5%
2009	65.7%	63.9%
2008	63.1%	61.0%
2007	62.5%	59.3%
2006	61.4%	56.8%
2005	61.0%	57.9%
2004	59.0%	58.5%
2003	58.3%	57.3%
2002	58.4%	57.6%
2001	59.8%	56.5%
2000	63.0%	55.0%
1999	66.2%	57.9%
1998	69.0%	54.0%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Audi A4	Volkswagen Passat
Suspension	11.3	14.5
Lights & electrics	11.5	11.0
Tyres	8.8	9.8
Brakes	7.6	7.7
Body & chassis	4.6	4.6
Emissions & leaks	3.9	4.1
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	3.4	3.0
Seat belts & airbags	1.1	1.7

Audi A4: top failures

Coil spring: fractured or broken3.4%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.2%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.8%
Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.9%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.6%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.4%

Volkswagen Passat: top failures

Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.1%
Coil spring: fractured or broken3.0%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.7%
Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.6%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.0%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.7%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Audi A4 or the Volkswagen Passat?

The Audi A4 does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 104 for the Volkswagen Passat, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Audi A4 and Volkswagen Passat can be compared?

Both were tested for 24 registration years (1998–2021). The Audi A4 had the higher pass rate in 18 of them and the Volkswagen Passat in 6.

What fails most on each?

Audi A4: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Volkswagen Passat: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; coil spring: fractured or broken.