Audi Cabriolet
From 2,430 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits and emissions levels exceed default limits. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 102 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 | 102 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 73 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 67 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 66 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 49 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 40 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 39 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 38 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 38 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 36 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 37.6% of failures are serious: 25.5% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 12% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £118.
Audi Cabriolet on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 153 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 153. At this rate, roughly 16.4 years until none remain. Now at 41.7% of its peak (5,994 in 2000 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 798 | 1,700 | +0 | -14 | -14 |
| 2025 Q2 | 847 | 1,665 | +0 | -4 | -4 |
| 2025 Q1 | 681 | 1,835 | +0 | -38 | -38 |
| 2024 Q4 | 685 | 1,869 | +0 | -97 | -97 |
| 2024 Q3 | 828 | 1,823 | +0 | -44 | -44 |
| 2024 Q2 | 864 | 1,831 | +1 | -0 | +28 |
| 2024 Q1 | 767 | 1,900 | +0 | -83 | -83 |
| 2023 Q4 | 793 | 1,957 | +1 | -35 | -34 |
5 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabriolet | Diesel | 359 | 45% |
| Cabriolet 1.8 | Petrol | 198 | 25% |
| Cabriolet Auto | Petrol | 116 | 15% |
| 2.8 Cabriolet Auto | Petrol | 64 | 8% |
| 2.8 Cabriolet | Petrol | 61 | 8% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 80.5% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1999 | 72.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1998 | 68.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured |
| 1997 | 79.5% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
4 earlier years
| 1996 | 63.7% | emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1995 | 71.1% | emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 1994 | 80% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated |
| 1993 | 71% | emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, emissions levels exceed default limits |
Typical mileage
Half of all Cabriolets tested had between 88,761 and 124,037 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 102,676 median miles, the Cabriolet has 0.026 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Audi models
Common questions
What is the Audi Cabriolet MOT pass rate?
The Audi Cabriolet has a 73.1% MOT pass rate based on 2,430 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Audi Cabriolet?
The most common MOT failure on the Audi Cabriolet is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 102 failures. Other common issues include emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits.
How many Audi Cabriolets are on UK roads?
There are 798 Audi Cabriolets currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,700 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Audi Cabriolet at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Audi Cabriolet is 102,676 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 88,761 and 124,037 miles.
Buying a used Cabriolet?
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 73.1% pass rate and an average repair bill of £118 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.