Audi S5
From 3,163 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer S5s fare better: 2014 models pass at 90.3% vs 83.8% for 2008.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged, a suspension pin and bush or joint excessively worn. The top issue, a tyre cords visible or damaged, caused 78 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 tyre cords visible or damaged | 78 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 73 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 58 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 43 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 35 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 29 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 19 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 18 |
| headlamp levelling device inoperative | 16 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 16 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 15.3% of S5 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 61.8% 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 £121.
Audi S5 on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 705 newly registered in the past year with 147 leaving, a net gain of 558. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 10,954 | 704 | +158 | -76 | +82 |
| 2025 Q2 | 10,930 | 646 | +265 | -6 | +259 |
| 2025 Q1 | 10,643 | 674 | +178 | -65 | +113 |
| 2024 Q4 | 10,543 | 661 | +104 | -0 | +141 |
| 2024 Q3 | 10,484 | 579 | +16 | -77 | -61 |
| 2024 Q2 | 10,600 | 524 | +28 | -1 | +27 |
| 2024 Q1 | 10,562 | 535 | +0 | -35 | -35 |
| 2023 Q4 | 10,626 | 506 | +4 | -14 | -10 |
16 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| S5 Tfsi Quattro Auto | Petrol | 5,499 | 50% |
| S5 V8 Quattro | Petrol | 791 | 7% |
| S5 S Line Black Ed Tfsi Quat A | Petrol | 769 | 7% |
| S5 V6T Quattro Auto | Petrol | 610 | 6% |
| S5 Edition 1 Tfsi Mhev Quat Sa | Petrol | 596 | 5% |
| S5 V6Tsline Blked Tfsi Quat Sa | Petrol | 457 | 4% |
| S5 Black Ed Tdi Mhev Quattro A | Diesel | 377 | 3% |
| S5 Black Ed Tfsi Quattro S-A | Petrol | 340 | 3% |
| S5 Black Edtn Tfsi Quattro A | Petrol | 321 | 3% |
| S5 Tfsi Auto | Petrol | 280 | 3% |
| S5 Tdi Mhev Quattro Auto | Diesel | 274 | 3% |
| S5 Edition 1 Tdi Mhev Quat A | Diesel | 194 | 2% |
| S5 Tfsi Quattro S-A | Petrol | 194 | 2% |
| S5 Fsi Quattro S-A | Petrol | 86 | <1% |
| S5 Vorsprung Tdi Mhev Quat A | Diesel | 59 | <1% |
| S5 Launch Ed Tfsi Mhev Quat Sa | Petrol | 58 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 90.3% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2013 | 90.5% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2012 | 91.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2011 | 88.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
4 earlier years
| 2010 | 82.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2009 | 88.4% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2008 | 83.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2007 | 82.3% | emissions levels exceed default limits, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
Typical mileage
Half of all S5s tested had between 65,782 and 98,472 miles on the clock.
At 87,767 median miles, the S5 has 0.015 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Audi models
Common questions
What is the Audi S5 MOT pass rate?
The Audi S5 has a 86.8% MOT pass rate based on 3,163 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Audi S5?
The most common MOT failure on the Audi S5 is a tyre cords visible or damaged, which caused 78 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
How many Audi S5s are on UK roads?
There are 10,954 Audi S5s currently licensed on UK roads, with 704 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Audi S5 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Audi S5 is 87,767 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 65,782 and 98,472 miles.
Buying a used S5?
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.