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Audi reliability and common MOT problems by model

Audi shows a 15.9% combined MOT failure rate across 1,915,943 tests in Motintel data. Q2 has one of the lower high-confidence rates at 7.0%. A4 deserves extra checking at 18.8%.

Data sources: DVSA MOT records, official recall records, and MOT fault wording snapshots (2026-04-27, 2026-04-29, rfr_codes_2025-05-12, failure items 2023). Search-indexed model pages must clear 20,000 MOT tests and 10,000 vehicles.

Most reliable Audi models in MOT data

#	Model	MOT failure rate	Tests	Vehicles
1	Audi Q2	7.0%	62,312 tests	55,656 vehicles
2	Audi Q5	12.2%	110,985 tests	94,825 vehicles
3	Audi Q3	12.9%	121,503 tests	102,349 vehicles
4	Audi Q7	13.8%	49,653 tests	41,546 vehicles
5	Audi A6	14.8%	146,874 tests	121,325 vehicles

Audi models with the highest MOT failure rates

#	Model	MOT failure rate	Tests	Vehicles
1	Audi A4	18.8%	320,113 tests	251,873 vehicles
2	Audi A3	17.7%	493,202 tests	389,895 vehicles
3	Audi Tt	17.3%	137,512 tests	111,914 vehicles
4	Audi A1	15.8%	241,865 tests	196,998 vehicles
5	Audi A5	15.6%	142,462 tests	116,416 vehicles

Common Audi MOT problem areas

#	Problem area	MOT notes	Models affected	What to check	High-rate examples
1	Corrosion and structure	201,864 MOT notes	10 models	Inspect sills, subframes, suspension mounts, brake pipes, and previous welding or rust repairs.	Audi Tt, Audi A3, Audi A4
2	Suspension and steering	147,189 MOT notes	10 models	Listen for knocks, check uneven tyre wear, and ask whether worn joints or bushes have been replaced.	Audi A4, Audi A3, Audi Tt
3	Lights and electrical	134,745 MOT notes	10 models	Test every exterior light, warning lamp, horn, washer, and basic electrical function before buying.	Audi Tt, Audi A6, Audi A4
4	Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors	115,386 MOT notes	10 models	Check the windscreen, wipers, washers, mirrors, chips, cracks, and whether the driver's view is clear.	Audi A3, Audi A4, Audi A6
5	Emissions, engine, and exhaust	90,995 MOT notes	10 models	Check cold starts, exhaust smoke, warning lights, service history, and recent emissions repairs.	Audi A4, Audi Tt, Audi Q7
6	Tyres and wheels	43,574 MOT notes	10 models	Look for matching tyres, legal tread, sidewall damage, wheel damage, and uneven wear.	Audi Q2, Audi Q3, Audi Q7

All Audi model reports

Model	MOT tests	Vehicles	Failure rate
A3	493,202	389,895	17.7%
A4	320,113	251,873	18.8%
A1	241,865	196,998	15.8%
A6	146,874	121,325	14.8%
A5	142,462	116,416	15.6%
Tt	137,512	111,914	17.3%
Q3	121,503	102,349	12.9%
Q5	110,985	94,825	12.2%
Q2	62,312	55,656	7.0%
Q7	49,653	41,546	13.8%
A7 limited data	18,563	15,669	11.9%
A8 limited data	13,005	11,297	10.3%
A2 limited data	9,817	7,041	28.7%
S3 limited data	4,103	3,334	16.1%
R8 limited data	4,072	3,586	7.8%
Q8 limited data	3,033	2,659	7.5%
Q3 S Line 35 Tfsi Mhev S A limited data	3,008	2,735	4.8%
E Tron limited data	2,917	2,546	7.5%
E Tron Technik 50 Quattro limited data	2,683	2,424	7.4%
Allroad limited data	2,313	1,820	19.6%
Q3 S Line 35 Tfsi limited data	2,160	1,927	6.5%
A3 S Line 35 Tfsi limited data	2,124	1,982	6.1%
A3 S Line 35 Tfsi Mhev S A limited data	2,045	1,906	5.8%
S5 limited data	1,696	1,432	14.2%
Q3 S Line 40 Tfsi Quattro S A limited data	1,675	1,505	5.5%
Q7 Sln Blk Ed 50tdi Mhev Qto A limited data	1,573	1,330	9.8%
A1 Technik 25 Tfsi limited data	1,529	1,357	7.3%
Cabriolet limited data	1,447	1,112	24.0%
S4 limited data	1,294	1,074	15.1%
Rs4 limited data	1,287	1,095	13.0%
A3 E Tron 40 S A limited data	1,268	1,036	12.0%
80 limited data	1,179	903	24.5%
Q7 S Line 50 Tdi Mhev Quat A limited data	1,154	1,006	9.0%
Q3 Sport 35 Tfsi limited data	1,143	1,029	6.2%
A6 S Line Black Ed 40 Tdi Sa limited data	1,134	957	6.8%
A3 Technik 30 Tfsi limited data	1,127	1,023	8.6%
A5 S Line 35 Tdi Mhev S A limited data	1,071	940	8.6%
Q5 S Ln Comp 55 Tfsi E Quat Sa limited data	1,042	911	6.1%

Models with limited data (fewer than 20,000 tests or 10,000 vehicles) have full reports but are not indexed in search engines until the evidence threshold is met.