Audi S4
From 1,958 MOT tests. Above 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, a tyre seriously damaged and a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 68 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 | 68 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 34 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 30 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 24 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 23 |
| a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 22 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 19 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 17 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 17 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 17 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 19.9% of S4 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 50.2% 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 £128.
Audi S4 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 97 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 64 newly registered, a net loss of 33.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 9,007 | 1,722 | +12 | -57 | -45 |
| 2025 Q2 | 9,076 | 1,698 | +17 | -19 | -2 |
| 2025 Q1 | 8,998 | 1,778 | +15 | -11 | +4 |
| 2024 Q4 | 9,019 | 1,753 | +20 | -10 | +10 |
| 2024 Q3 | 9,139 | 1,623 | +65 | -64 | +1 |
| 2024 Q2 | 9,192 | 1,569 | +73 | -54 | +19 |
| 2024 Q1 | 9,168 | 1,574 | +6 | -87 | -81 |
| 2023 Q4 | 9,247 | 1,576 | +10 | -53 | -43 |
15 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| S4 Tfsi Quattro Auto | Petrol | 4,007 | 45% |
| S4 T Quattro Auto | Petrol | 822 | 9% |
| S4 Black Edition Tdi Quattro A | Diesel | 550 | 6% |
| S4 Quattro | Petrol | 543 | 6% |
| S4 Tfsi Quattro Black Edit A | Petrol | 497 | 6% |
| S4 Quattro Auto | Petrol | 454 | 5% |
| S4 T Quattro | Petrol | 419 | 5% |
| S4 Black Ed Tdi Mhev Quattro A | Diesel | 358 | 4% |
| S4 | Petrol | 335 | 4% |
| S4 Tdi Quattro Auto | Diesel | 299 | 3% |
| S4 Quattro Cabriolet A | Petrol | 178 | 2% |
| S4 Quattro Cabriolet | Gas | 173 | 2% |
| S4 Tdi Mhev Quattro Auto | Diesel | 138 | 2% |
| S4 V6T Black Ed Nav Quat S-A | Petrol | 112 | 1% |
| S4 Vorsprung Tdi Mhev Quat A | Diesel | 89 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 86% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2013 | 94.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2011 | 87.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2010 | 89.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged |
6 earlier years
| 2009 | 83.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2007 | 82.4% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2006 | 81.1% | a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2005 | 77.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps |
| 2004 | 78.6% | 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 |
| 1999 | 79.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 |
Typical mileage
Half of all S4s tested had between 85,044 and 146,818 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 110,372 median miles, the S4 has 0.014 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Audi models
Common questions
What is the Audi S4 MOT pass rate?
The Audi S4 has a 84.6% MOT pass rate based on 1,958 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Audi S4?
The most common MOT failure on the Audi S4 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 68 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
How many Audi S4s are on UK roads?
There are 9,007 Audi S4s currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,722 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Audi S4 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Audi S4 is 110,372 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 85,044 and 146,818 miles.
Buying a used S4?
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 84.6% pass rate and an average repair bill of £128 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.