Audi A8
From 16,722 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer A8s fare better: 2021 models pass at 97.8% vs 80.1% for 2005.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged and tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 348 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.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 348 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 233 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 220 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 137 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 113 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 105 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 87 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 71 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 71 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 63 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 55.6% of A8 failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 7.3% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £99.
Audi A8 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 708 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 132 newly registered, a net loss of 576. At this rate, roughly 21.7 years until none remain. Now at 86.1% of its peak (14,505 in 2019 Q3).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 9,411 | 3,073 | +27 | -131 | -104 |
| 2025 Q2 | 9,558 | 3,030 | +35 | -182 | -147 |
| 2025 Q1 | 9,729 | 3,006 | +32 | -169 | -137 |
| 2024 Q4 | 9,896 | 2,976 | +38 | -226 | -188 |
| 2024 Q3 | 10,098 | 2,962 | +21 | -130 | -109 |
| 2024 Q2 | 10,266 | 2,903 | +32 | -101 | -69 |
| 2024 Q1 | 10,381 | 2,857 | +30 | -277 | -247 |
| 2023 Q4 | 10,709 | 2,776 | +138 | -92 | +46 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| A8 Se Exec Tdi Quattro A | Diesel | 1,028 | 13% |
| A8 Se Tdi Quattro Auto | Diesel | 813 | 11% |
| A8 L Se Exec Tdi Quattro Auto | Diesel | 804 | 10% |
| A8 Sport Tdi Quattro Auto | Diesel | 710 | 9% |
| A8 50 Tdi Quattro Auto | Diesel | 699 | 9% |
| A8 Sport Exec Tdi Quattro Auto | Diesel | 594 | 8% |
| A8 S Line 50 Tdi Quattro Auto | Diesel | 512 | 7% |
| A8 Black Ed 50 Tdi Mhev Quat A | Diesel | 298 | 4% |
| A8 Black Edition Tdi Quattro A | Diesel | 273 | 4% |
| A8 55 Tfsi Quattro Auto | Petrol | 232 | 3% |
| A8 Sport Quattro Tdi Auto | Diesel | 213 | 3% |
| A8 Se Exec Tdi Quattro Auto | Diesel | 212 | 3% |
| A8 Sport Exec Tdi Quattro A | Diesel | 207 | 3% |
| A8L Se Tdi Quattro Auto | Diesel | 192 | 3% |
| A8 Se Executive Tdi Quattro A | Diesel | 184 | 2% |
| A8 L 50 Tdi Quattro Auto | Diesel | 183 | 2% |
| A8 S Line Blk Ed 50 Tdi Quat A | Diesel | 177 | 2% |
| A8 Se Quattro Tdi Auto | Diesel | 146 | 2% |
| A8 Tdi Quattro Auto | Diesel | 94 | 1% |
| A8 L Sport Exec Tdi Quattro A | Diesel | 87 | 1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 97.8% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2020 | 93.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led |
| 2019 | 94.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2018 | 92.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
19 earlier years
| 2017 | 94.5% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2016 | 92.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2015 | 91.4% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2014 | 94.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2013 | 90.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2012 | 89.7% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2011 | 88.7% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2010 | 85.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2009 | 84.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2008 | 82.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction |
| 2007 | 79.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2006 | 81.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2005 | 80.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2004 | 77.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2003 | 75.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2002 | 77.2% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2001 | 82.6% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated |
| 1999 | 79.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1998 | 70.3% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led |
Typical mileage
Half of all A8s tested had between 56,694 and 138,293 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 86,876 median miles, the A8 has 0.013 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Audi models
Common questions
What is the Audi A8 MOT pass rate?
The Audi A8 has a 88.6% MOT pass rate based on 16,722 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Audi A8?
The most common MOT failure on the Audi A8 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 348 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
How many Audi A8s are on UK roads?
There are 9,411 Audi A8s currently licensed on UK roads, with 3,073 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Audi A8 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Audi A8 is 86,876 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 56,694 and 138,293 miles.
Buying a used A8?
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.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
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.