Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, 3 to 15 years old

Audi models ranked by MOT fails

Q: Which Audi models have the fewest MOT fails?

36,513 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years put the Audi A8 first: 61% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage. Next is the Audi R8: 57% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

Q: Which Audi models fail their MOT most often?

862,032 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years put the Audi A1 last of the 16 in this list: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.96).

Q: How many Audi models are compared?

16 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 5,867,106 MOT tests in all; 12 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 0 at least 20% more often.

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 5,867,106 MOT tests · Updated 7 Oct 2026

Audi A8 has the fewest MOT fails among Audi models: 61% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (36,513 MOT tests) ^[1].

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16 models ranked, 12 with at least 20% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (95% interval, at 3 or more ages), from 5,867,106 MOT tests ^[1]
Audi R8 is next: 57% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (7,261 MOT tests)
Audi A1 is last of the 16: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.96) (862,032 MOT tests)

Which year and engine a car has, and how it was kept, decide where one car sits in these ranges. Check the reg first.

Fail rates are for the model across its MOT tests, never a forecast for one car.

Fewest MOT fails: Audi A8, 61% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
#2 for fewest MOT fails: Audi R8, 57% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
#3 for fewest MOT fails: Audi A7, 41% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage
#4 for fewest MOT fails: Audi S3, 40% fewer fails than cars the same age and mileage

This is DVSA MOT data, not road tests, owner surveys or breakdown records, and nobody paid to be included. Each model is compared with all cars tested at the same age, in the same mileage band and in its own mix of test years, so a low-mileage model does not look better for its low mileage. "Most reliable" in our titles is measured as MOT failure rate at the same age and mileage, not breakdowns.

Audi models: the ranking

Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, from 16 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each of 3 or more ages between 3 to 15 years (pooled). The range under each rank is where the model could sit once sampling error is allowed for. Each adjusted rate reads against its own all-car rate, because models are tested at different ages.

Top 16 of 16. Adjusted rate = the model's rate at typical mileage for its own ages, against all cars at those ages; raw = its own ages and mileage.
#95% range	Model	Against cars the same age and mileage	Adjusted rateits own ages, typical mileage	Rawits own ages and mileage	MOT tests	Next step
1certain	Audi A8executive car	61% fewer fails (60–62% fewer)	10.1%all cars: 26.3%	11.0%	36,513at 3 to 15 years	Audi A8 common problems
2certain	Audi R8sports car	57% fewer fails (54–60% fewer)	13.4%all cars: 31.1%	9.8%	7,261at 6 to 8 and 13 to 15 years	Audi R8 common problems
33–4	Audi A7executive car	41% fewer fails (40–42% fewer)	14.1%all cars: 24.1%	15.4%	66,602at 3 to 14 years	Audi A7 MOT fail rate · Audi A7 common problems
43–6	Audi S3family hatchback	40% fewer fails (37–42% fewer)	14.4%all cars: 23.9%	14.7%	12,979at 3 to 4, 9 to 11 and 13 to 15 years	Audi S3 common problems
54–6	Audi TTsports car	37% fewer fails (36–37% fewer)	17.5%all cars: 27.6%	17.1%	309,761at 3 to 15 years	Audi TT MOT fail rate · Audi TT common problems
66–8	Audi A6executive car	36% fewer fails (35–36% fewer)	16.8%all cars: 26.0%	18.6%	440,934at 3 to 15 years	Audi A6 MOT fail rate · Audi A6 common problems
76–8	Audi Q7large SUV	35% fewer fails (34–35% fewer)	15.2%all cars: 23.2%	16.7%	171,881at 3 to 15 years	Audi Q7 MOT fail rate · Audi Q7 common problems
84–10	Audi Q8large SUV	34% fewer fails (30–37% fewer)	8.5%all cars: 12.8%	9.3%	14,352at 3 to 6 years	Audi Q8 common problems
98–10	Audi Q2small SUV	33% fewer fails (32–33% fewer)	9.6%all cars: 14.2%	9.5%	259,899at 3 to 8 years	Audi Q2 MOT fail rate · Audi Q2 common problems
108–10	Audi Q5family SUV	33% fewer fails (32–33% fewer)	14.8%all cars: 21.9%	15.9%	416,602at 3 to 15 years	Audi Q5 MOT fail rate · Audi Q5 common problems
11certain	Audi Q3family SUV	24% fewer fails (24–25% fewer)	15.7%all cars: 20.8%	16.2%	497,017at 3 to 13 years	Audi Q3 MOT fail rate · Audi Q3 common problems
1212–13	Audi A5executive car	23% fewer fails (23–24% fewer)	19.9%all cars: 25.9%	21.1%	481,140at 3 to 15 years	Audi A5 MOT fail rate · Audi A5 common problems
1312–15	Audi e-tronlarge SUV	close to averageratio 0.79 (0.77–0.82)	9.2%all cars: 11.6%	9.9%	37,310at 3 to 5 years	Audi e-tron MOT fail rate · Audi e-tron common problems
1413–14	Audi A3family hatchback	close to averageratio 0.80 (0.80–0.80)	21.0%all cars: 26.2%	22.1%	1,461,887at 3 to 15 years	Audi A3 MOT fail rate · Audi A3 common problems
1514–15	Audi A4executive car	close to averageratio 0.81 (0.81–0.81)	21.7%all cars: 26.8%	23.6%	790,936at 3 to 15 years	Audi A4 MOT fail rate · Audi A4 common problems
16certain	Audi A1supermini	close to averageratio 0.96 (0.96–0.96)	22.3%all cars: 23.2%	22.0%	862,032at 3 to 15 years	Audi A1 MOT fail rate · Audi A1 common problems

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The top 10 in this list, model by model

1 · 61% fewer MOT fails

Audi A8

Why it ranks here: 61% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.39, 95% CI 0.38–0.40), from 36,513 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 10.1% (9.8%–10.4%), against 26.3% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 11.0%. Rank range 1–1.

Check before you buy: fails on number plates and VIN 1.3–1.8× as often as cars the same age (170 fails in 37,500 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

2 · 57% fewer MOT fails

Audi R8

Why it ranks here: 57% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.43, 95% CI 0.40–0.46), from 7,261 MOT tests at 6 to 8 and 13 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 13.4% (12.5%–14.4%), against 31.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 9.8%. Rank range 2–2.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a sports car; the ones tested were mostly petrol.

3 · 41% fewer MOT fails

Audi A7

Why it ranks here: 41% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.59, 95% CI 0.58–0.60), from 66,602 MOT tests at 3 to 14 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 14.1% (13.9%–14.4%), against 24.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 15.4%. Rank range 3–4.

Check before you buy: fails on number plates and VIN 2.0–2.4× as often as cars the same age (400 fails in 67,548 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

4 · 40% fewer MOT fails

Audi S3

Why it ranks here: 40% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.60, 95% CI 0.58–0.63), from 12,979 MOT tests at 3 to 4, 9 to 11 and 13 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 14.4% (13.9%–15.0%), against 23.9% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 14.7%. Rank range 3–6.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a family hatchback; the ones tested were mostly petrol.

5 · 37% fewer MOT fails

Audi TT

Why it ranks here: 37% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.63, 95% CI 0.63–0.64), from 309,761 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 17.5% (17.3%–17.6%), against 27.6% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 17.1%. Rank range 4–6.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a sports car; the ones tested were mostly petrol.

6 · 36% fewer MOT fails

Audi A6

Why it ranks here: 36% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.64, 95% CI 0.64–0.65), from 440,934 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 16.8% (16.7%–16.9%), against 26.0% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 18.6%. Rank range 6–8.

Check before you buy: fails on number plates and VIN 1.4–1.5× as often as cars the same age (1,861 fails in 443,342 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on seat belts and airbags 1.26–1.34× as often as cars the same age (3,697 fails in 443,342 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

7 · 35% fewer MOT fails

Audi Q7

Why it ranks here: 35% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.65, 95% CI 0.65–0.66), from 171,881 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 15.2% (15.0%–15.3%), against 23.2% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 16.7%. Rank range 6–8.

Check before you buy: fails on number plates and VIN 2.1–2.3× as often as cars the same age (1,039 fails in 173,496 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on road wheels 1.2–1.4× as often as cars the same age (736 fails in 173,496 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a large SUV; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

8 · 34% fewer MOT fails

Audi Q8

Why it ranks here: 34% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.66, 95% CI 0.63–0.70), from 14,352 MOT tests at 3 to 6 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 8.5% (8.0%–8.9%), against 12.8% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 9.3%. Rank range 4–10.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a large SUV; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

9 · 33% fewer MOT fails

Audi Q2

Why it ranks here: 33% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.67, 95% CI 0.67–0.68), from 259,899 MOT tests at 3 to 8 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 9.6% (9.4%–9.7%), against 14.2% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 9.5%. Rank range 8–10.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a small SUV; the ones tested were 78% petrol, 22% diesel.

10 · 33% fewer MOT fails

Audi Q5

Why it ranks here: 33% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (ratio 0.67, 95% CI 0.67–0.68), from 416,602 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 14.8% (14.7%–14.9%), against 21.9% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 15.9%. Rank range 8–10.

Check before you buy: fails on body and structure 1.87–1.93× as often as cars the same age (13,027 fails in 418,941 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on number plates and VIN 1.4–1.6× as often as cars the same age (1,652 fails in 418,941 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family SUV; the ones tested were 77% diesel, 20% petrol.

How to choose Audi models with this list

Compare like with like: against cars the same age and mileage, this list runs from 61% fewer (Audi A8) to about average (Audi A1).
12 of the 16 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 0 at least 20% more often; the other 4 are within that band, or too uncertain to say.
Look at what a model fails on: 5 of the 10 models above have a part that fails more often than on cars the same age.
Then check the one car: its own MOT history and advisories say more about it than its model's average.

Found one on the list? Check that car

A ranking compares models at the same age and mileage; it cannot say how one car was kept. A registration shows that car's own DVSA record: its MOT tests, the mileage at each test and the recall flag.

Free car check by registration The MOT record, the mileage readings and the recall flag in one overview, with how the model does at its MOT.
Check any car's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
Mileage check by registration The odometer reading from each MOT, with drops, jumps and long gaps flagged.

How we rank

5,867,106 MOT tests from 2022–2025 of cars 3 to 15 years old. For each model and age, the tests are split into 6 mileage bands (<30k, 30-60k, 60-90k, 90-120k, 120-150k, 150k+); the expected fails are what all cars of that age would fail in the same bands, corrected to the model's own mix of test years. The ratio of the model's fails to the expected fails sets its place. The adjusted rate is that ratio times the all-car rate at the model's own ages, so it reads against that rate: a model tested only at 3 to 5 years is compared with young cars, not with this list's average.

The 95% intervals cover sampling error only (Wilson intervals). A model is called fewer or more only when its interval is at least 20% from the all-car rate, overall and at 3 or more ages ("close to average" when the interval excludes the all-car rate by less); awards use the same rule. Test years: Each model's expected fails therefore use its own mix of test years 2022–2025, age by age; the mileage bands themselves pool the four years, which can leave a small bias in favour of models first sold late in the window. Generations of a model are pooled unless the data splits them; each row says which years it covers. How we compare

Limitation: MOT tests record roadworthiness defects on the test day. They do not record breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs, and they cannot separate design from upkeep: a model whose owners service it before every MOT looks better here. Only cars still on the road are tested.

More lists

Questions people ask

Which Audi models have the fewest MOT fails?

36,513 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years put the Audi A8 first: 61% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage. Next is the Audi R8: 57% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

Which Audi models fail their MOT most often?

862,032 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years put the Audi A1 last of the 16 in this list: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.96).

How many Audi models are compared?

16 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 5,867,106 MOT tests in all; 12 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 0 at least 20% more often.

Sources

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 5,867,106 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.