Is the Audi A4 reliable?

On MOT evidence the Audi A4 is above average. It passes 77.8% of tests once age and mileage are accounted for, against a national average of 72.3%, which ranks it 76 of 262 models with enough data for a fair comparison. This measures how often the car meets the MOT standard, not how often it breaks down or what a repair costs.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Audi A4?

The item recorded most often is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", which appears in 21.2% of failed Audi A4 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.

What do testers most often warn about on a Audi A4?

The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 28.5% of all Audi A4 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a Audi A4 usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 105,790 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Which Audi A4 years are the most reliable?

Going by MOT pass rate, Audi A4 cars first registered 2020–2022 do best at 87.6%, and those registered 2010 and earlier do worst at 63.6%. But that ordering is mostly age, not build year: almost every model passes less often as it wears, so the newest cars top this list whatever they are. A specific year looking strong here means little on its own; the failure items above, and the individual car's own MOT history, tell you far more.

Does a Audi A4 get harder to pass as it ages?

Yes. At 3 to 5 years old, 87.6% of Audi A4 tests pass. By fifteen years or more, that falls to 63.6%. Nearly every model follows this pattern, which is why comparing raw pass rates between models is misleading unless age is accounted for.

Are most Audi A4 models petrol or diesel?

Of the Audi A4 cars tested, 65% are diesel, 35% are petrol. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

Model reliability file

Audi A4 MOT pass rate & common failures

From 243,328 recorded MOT tests of the Audi A4, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

The Audi A4 passes 77.8% of MOT tests once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, against a national average of 72.3%. That is above average, ranking it 76 of 262 models with enough data to compare fairly. Based on 243,328 tests. Its most commonly recorded failure is spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, which appears in 21.2% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 105,790 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage

77.8%national average72.3%unadjusted73.0%range covered100%rank76 of 262

The A4 is 5.5 percentage points above the national pass rate once age and mileage are accounted for, which is above average. The unadjusted figure is 73.0%; the difference is what the age and mileage of this model’s fleet was hiding.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Audi A4 tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened21.2%
11,659 occurrencesRoad spring broken or fractured explained
2.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements17.7%
9,778 occurrencesTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
3.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc15.5%
8,562 occurrencesDriveshaft CV joint gaiter split or missing explained
4.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn15.2%
8,393 occurrencesSuspension arm bush worn explained
5.A tyre cords visible or damaged9.3%
5,108 occurrencesTyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
6.A tyre seriously damaged8.3%
4,579 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
7.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm7.2%
3,965 occurrencesBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
8.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements6.9%
3,822 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained
9.A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage5.9%
3,235 occurrencesShock absorber defective explained
10.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen5.8%
3,214 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Audi A4 tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements28.5%
69,265 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
2.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn24.6%
59,964 testsSuspension arm bush worn explained
3.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured11.4%
27,639 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
4.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm9.9%
24,023 testsBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
5.A tyre seriously damaged7.8%
18,883 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
6.A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage6.0%
14,553 testsShock absorber defective explained
7.A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded5.1%
12,312 testsSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained
8.Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users4.9%
12,043 tests

The rest of the record

Everything else recorded on the Audi A4

The 19 other defects testers recorded on this model, beyond the most common listed above. Each links to what it means and what it takes to put right.

Known faults

Audi A4 common problems, by part and by year

The same failure record read the way a buyer asks the question: which parts wear out on a A4, when they start, and how each registration year compares — including the steps that mark a generation change.

A4 common problems and results by year

How wear changes the picture

A4 pass rate by age and registration year

How often the Audi A4 passes at each age, with the years those cars were first registered. Tests are from 2025, so a car aged 3 to 5 was first used in 2020–2022.

3–5 yrsreg. 2020–202288%

6–8 yrsreg. 2017–201981%

9–11 yrsreg. 2014–201675%

12–14 yrsreg. 2011–201371%

15+ yrsreg. 2010 and earlier64%

Read this as an age curve rather than a verdict on particular model years. Nearly every car passes less often as it gets older, so a newer A4 outscoring an older one says more about wear than about how that year’s cars were built. Bands holding too few tests to be meaningful are omitted rather than shown as a rate.

What gets tested

The A4 fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 105,790
Fuel mix of tested cars: Diesel64.7%
Petrol35.3%

Trim names grouped into this model (40)

Recorded exactly as DVSA holds them. Trim-level names are rolled up so one model is not split across a dozen thin pages.

A4 2.0 TFSI S TRONIC QUATTRO
A4 35 TDI MHEV
A4 35 TDI S-LINE
A4 35 TFSI
A4 35 TFSI S-LINE
A4 4WD
A4 A-ROAD SPT 40TDI MHEV QT SA
A4 A-ROAD VOR 45TFSI MHEV Q SA
A4 ALLROAD
A4 ALLROAD QUATTRO
A4 ALLROAD QUATTRO 4WD AUTO LEATHER
A4 ALLROAD SPORT 40TDI QUAT SA
A4 ALLROAD SPORT 50 TDI QUAT A
A4 ALLROAD TFSI
A4 ALLROAD VOR 40 TDI QUAT SA
A4 ALLROAD VOR 40TDI MHEV Q SA
A4 ALLROAD VOR 50 TDI QUAT A
A4 AROAD SPT 45TFSI MHEV QT SA
A4 AUTO
A4 AVANT
A4 AVANT 30 TFSI
A4 AVANT QUATTRO
A4 AVANT S-LINE
A4 CABRIOLET
A4 QUATTRO
A4 QUATTRO S-LINE
A4 S LINE
A4 S LINE 30 TDI MHEV S-A
A4 S LINE 30 TDI S-A
A4 S LINE 35 TDI MHEV S-A
A4 S LINE 35 TFSI MHEV
A4 S LINE 35 TFSI MHEV S-A
A4 S LINE 40 TDI MHEV QUAT SA
A4 S LINE 40 TFSI MHEV S-A
A4 S LINE 45 TFSI MHEV QUAT SA
A4 S LINE BLACK ED 30 TDI S-A
A4 S LINE BLACK EDITION TDICVT
A4 S LINE BLK ED 35 TFSI MHEV
A4 S LINE TDI QUATTRO S-A
A4 S LINE TFSI 225 QUATTRO S TRONIC

Check a specific Audi A4

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other Audi models

Audi A3 — 77.8% adjusted
Audi A1 — 73.7% adjusted
Audi Q3 — 81.5% adjusted
Audi A5 — 79.1% adjusted
Audi A6 — 82.4% adjusted
Audi Q5 — 81.6% adjusted
All Audi models

Similar test volumes

Compare against other makes

Mini Mini — 69.4% adjusted, ranked 176
Nissan Micra — 63.8% adjusted, ranked 233
Volkswagen Tiguan — 77.3% adjusted, ranked 83
Hyundai I10 — 67.7% adjusted, ranked 199

Common questions

Is the Audi A4 reliable?: On MOT evidence the Audi A4 is above average. It passes 77.8% of tests once age and mileage are accounted for, against a national average of 72.3%, which ranks it 76 of 262 models with enough data for a fair comparison. This measures how often the car meets the MOT standard, not how often it breaks down or what a repair costs.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Audi A4?: The item recorded most often is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", which appears in 21.2% of failed Audi A4 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a Audi A4?: The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 28.5% of all Audi A4 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Audi A4 usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 105,790 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.
Which Audi A4 years are the most reliable?: Going by MOT pass rate, Audi A4 cars first registered 2020–2022 do best at 87.6%, and those registered 2010 and earlier do worst at 63.6%. But that ordering is mostly age, not build year: almost every model passes less often as it wears, so the newest cars top this list whatever they are. A specific year looking strong here means little on its own; the failure items above, and the individual car's own MOT history, tell you far more.
Does a Audi A4 get harder to pass as it ages?: Yes. At 3 to 5 years old, 87.6% of Audi A4 tests pass. By fifteen years or more, that falls to 63.6%. Nearly every model follows this pattern, which is why comparing raw pass rates between models is misleading unless age is accounted for.
Are most Audi A4 models petrol or diesel?: Of the Audi A4 cars tested, 65% are diesel, 35% are petrol. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. The adjusted rate is directly standardised across twenty-five age and mileage bands and reweighted onto the national distribution, so this model is compared against cars that have lived a similar life rather than against a younger or lighter-used fleet.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.