Audi S8
From 415 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning and a tyre cords visible or damaged. The top issue, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated, caused 11 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 transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 11 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 9 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 7 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 7 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 7 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 6 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 6 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 4 |
| a lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning | 4 |
| an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction | 4 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 47.7% of failures are serious: 36.9% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 10.8% 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 £103.
Audi S8 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 16 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 13 newly registered, a net loss of 3.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 936 | 388 | +2 | -0 | +2 |
| 2025 Q2 | 938 | 384 | +3 | -0 | +8 |
| 2025 Q1 | 941 | 373 | +5 | -16 | -11 |
| 2024 Q4 | 950 | 375 | +3 | -0 | +6 |
| 2024 Q3 | 959 | 360 | +3 | -18 | -15 |
| 2024 Q2 | 996 | 338 | +14 | -18 | -4 |
| 2024 Q1 | 991 | 347 | +6 | -11 | -5 |
| 2023 Q4 | 989 | 354 | +10 | -13 | -3 |
7 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| S8 V8 Tfsi Quattro Auto | Petrol | 388 | 43% |
| S8 V10 Quattro A | Diesel | 162 | 18% |
| S8 4.2 Quattro Auto | Petrol | 111 | 12% |
| S8 + V8 Tfsi Quattro Auto | Petrol | 71 | 8% |
| S8 V8T Tfsi Quattro Auto | Petrol | 66 | 7% |
| S8 Vorsprung Tfsi Mhev Quat A | Petrol | 51 | 6% |
| S8 Black Ed Tfsi Mhev Quat A | Petrol | 50 | 6% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
Typical mileage
Half of all S8s tested had between 80,018 and 137,618 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 101,345 median miles, the S8 has 0.015 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Audi models
Common questions
What is the Audi S8 MOT pass rate?
The Audi S8 has a 84.3% MOT pass rate based on 415 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Audi S8?
The most common MOT failure on the Audi S8 is a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated, which caused 11 failures. Other common issues include a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning.
How many Audi S8s are on UK roads?
There are 936 Audi S8s currently licensed on UK roads, with 388 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Audi S8 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Audi S8 is 101,345 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 80,018 and 137,618 miles.
Buying a used S8?
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 84.3% pass rate and an average repair bill of £103 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.