Audi 80
From 2,065 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 103 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 103 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 68 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 57 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 50 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 49 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 47 |
| an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 46 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 45 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 43 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 40 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 20.6% of 80 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 35.6% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £113.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 73.7% while Diesel versions pass at 68.5%, a 5 percentage point gap.
Audi 80 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 102 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 3 newly registered, a net loss of 99. At this rate, roughly 28.2 years until none remain. Now at 2.5% of its peak (110,895 in 1994 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 607 | 2,212 | +0 | -19 | -19 |
| 2025 Q2 | 635 | 2,203 | +1 | -19 | -18 |
| 2025 Q1 | 609 | 2,247 | +1 | -30 | -29 |
| 2024 Q4 | 632 | 2,253 | +1 | -34 | -33 |
| 2024 Q3 | 661 | 2,257 | +0 | -39 | -39 |
| 2024 Q2 | 682 | 2,275 | +1 | -0 | +4 |
| 2024 Q1 | 678 | 2,275 | +0 | -28 | -28 |
| 2023 Q4 | 701 | 2,280 | +0 | -18 | -18 |
3 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 Tdi | Petrol | 86 | 36% |
| 80 E | Diesel | 79 | 33% |
| 80 | Petrol | 74 | 31% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 74.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1994 | 74% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1993 | 64.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched |
| 1992 | 76.6% | a wheel bearing with excessive play, emissions levels exceed default limits |
Typical mileage
Half of all 80s tested had between 106,222 and 179,428 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 140,202 median miles, the 80 has 0.02 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Audi models
Common questions
What is the Audi 80 MOT pass rate?
The Audi 80 has a 72.4% MOT pass rate based on 2,065 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Audi 80?
The most common MOT failure on the Audi 80 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 103 failures. Other common issues include a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
How many Audi 80s are on UK roads?
There are 607 Audi 80s currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,212 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Audi 80 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Audi 80 is 140,202 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 106,222 and 179,428 miles.
Buying a used 80?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 72.4% pass rate and an average repair bill of £113 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.