Audi A5
From 225,567 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer A5s fare better: 2021 models pass at 91.9% vs 79.8% for 2007.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged, a suspension pin and bush or joint excessively worn. The top issue, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, caused 5,843 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 5,843 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 4,917 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 4,247 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 3,641 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 3,459 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 2,427 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 2,009 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,861 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 1,810 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 1,540 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 22.5% of A5 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 48% 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 £125.
The warranty question
A new A5 passes its MOT 90.9% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 85.8%, a 5.1 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 82.3%. With an average repair bill of £125 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a A5 that's past its third birthday.
Audi A5 on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 5,692 newly registered in the past year with 3,546 leaving, a net gain of 2,146. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 121,751 | 6,530 | +1,813 | -1,188 | +625 |
| 2025 Q2 | 121,382 | 6,274 | +1,712 | -938 | +774 |
| 2025 Q1 | 120,594 | 6,288 | +1,481 | -797 | +684 |
| 2024 Q4 | 120,403 | 5,795 | +686 | -623 | +63 |
| 2024 Q3 | 120,928 | 5,207 | +1,211 | -825 | +386 |
| 2024 Q2 | 120,791 | 4,958 | +1,510 | -767 | +743 |
| 2024 Q1 | 120,208 | 4,798 | +998 | -952 | +46 |
| 2023 Q4 | 120,421 | 4,539 | +1,086 | -634 | +452 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| A5 S Line Tdi | Petrol | 8,314 | 14% |
| A5 S Line Tfsi S-A | Petrol | 5,366 | 9% |
| A5 S Line Tdi Quattro S-A | Diesel | 3,920 | 7% |
| A5 S Line 35 Tdi Mhev S-A | Diesel | 3,641 | 6% |
| A5 S Line Tdi Cvt | Diesel | 3,455 | 6% |
| A5 S Line 40 Tfsi Mhev S-A | Petrol | 3,412 | 6% |
| A5 S Line Black Edition Tdi | Diesel | 3,036 | 5% |
| A5 Sport 35 Tfsi Mhev S-A | Petrol | 2,680 | 5% |
| A5 S Line 35 Tfsi Mhev S-A | Petrol | 2,628 | 5% |
| A5 S Line Tfsi | Petrol | 2,599 | 4% |
| A5 S Line Tdi S-A | Diesel | 2,413 | 4% |
| A5 Se Tdi | Diesel | 2,277 | 4% |
| A5 S Line Tfsi Quattro S-A | Petrol | 2,091 | 4% |
| A5 S Line 40 Tfsi S-A | Petrol | 1,957 | 3% |
| A5 S Line Tdi Quattro | Diesel | 1,834 | 3% |
| A5 Se Technik Tdi | Diesel | 1,812 | 3% |
| A5 S Line 35 Tfsi S-A | Petrol | 1,716 | 3% |
| A5 S Line Tdi Quattro Auto | Diesel | 1,708 | 3% |
| A5 Sport Tdi Quattro | Diesel | 1,567 | 3% |
| A5 S Line Tfsi Cvt | Petrol | 1,421 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 91.9% | number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2020 | 90.9% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2019 | 89.4% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2018 | 89% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
11 earlier years
| 2017 | 87.7% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2016 | 85.8% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2015 | 84.2% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2014 | 83.2% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2013 | 82.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2012 | 82.1% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2011 | 80.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2010 | 79.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2009 | 78.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2008 | 78.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2007 | 79.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all A5s tested had between 100,824 and 140,405 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 117,415 median miles, the A5 has 0.013 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Audi models
Common questions
What is the Audi A5 MOT pass rate?
The Audi A5 has a 84.2% MOT pass rate based on 225,567 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Audi A5?
The most common MOT failure on the Audi A5 is tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, which caused 5,843 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
How many Audi A5s are on UK roads?
There are 121,751 Audi A5s currently licensed on UK roads, with 6,530 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Audi A5 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Audi A5 is 117,415 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 100,824 and 140,405 miles.
Buying a used A5?
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 84.2% pass rate and an average repair bill of £125 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.