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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2021 Audi TT MOT fail rate and common faults

How Audi TT cars first used in 2021 did at their MOTs from 2024 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 4,969 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 4 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 4 (n=2,481)8.1%
All cars at 4 years (n=8,699,937)13.4%
Difference−5.3 pts
MOT tests of 2021 cars, 2024 to 20254,969

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 4 years old, Audi TT cars first used in 2021 failed 8.1% of MOTs (2,481 tests), 5.3 points below the 13.4% for all cars that age.
  • From 2024 to 2025, as these cars went from 3 to 4 years old, the fail rate moved from 9.5% to 8.1%.
  • Audi TT cars first used a year earlier, in 2020, failed 9.1% at the same age of 4 years (3,012 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Audi TT at 4 years, is airbag (SRS) warning light on, at 0.4 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 0.1).

MOT fail rate by test year

Audi TT cars first used in 2021: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
20243 years9.5%2,48812.1%−2.6 pts
20254 years8.1%2,48113.4%−5.3 pts

Most common faults at 4 years

These figures cover all Audi TT MOTs at 4 years: cars first used 2018 to 2021, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=14,426). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear2.31.4
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear1.41.5
Tyre with cords exposed Wear0.60.9
Tyre condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Wear0.50.4
Headlight aimed too high Wear0.50.6
Airbag (SRS) warning light on0.40.1
Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear0.41.3
Wipers not clearing screen Wear0.42.5
Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative0.30.3
Headlamp aim: too low Wear0.30.6

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=14,426). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear13.412.4
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear5.46.3
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened5.15.2
Brake pads wearing thin Wear5.06.9
Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre3.42.1
Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear2.31.8
Tyre tread close to the legal limit, under the 1.0 mm rule Wear1.91.8
Windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.61.5
Shock absorber misting oil1.21.2
Tyre condition: slightly damaged Wear1.20.7

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=14,426). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 4 years

These figures cover all Audi TT MOTs at 4 years: cars first used 2018 to 2021, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=14,426). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Petrol97.9%8.0%14,13012.0%23,036 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 4 years

These figures cover all Audi TT MOTs at 4 years: cars first used 2018 to 2021, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=14,426). At 4 years, Audi TT cars at 30,000 to 60,000 miles failed more often (10.6%, n=3,981) than those at under 30,000 miles (7.0%, n=10,214). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Under 30,000 miles7.0%10,21410.2%
30,000 to 60,000 miles10.6%3,98115.5%

Car tax rules for a 2021 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 April 2017 pay a first-year rate set by CO2 emissions, then the standard rate each year. A petrol, diesel or hybrid car with a list price over £40,000 also pays the expensive car supplement for five years, from the second tax payment.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • Diesel cars first registered from September 2015 usually meet Euro 6, the diesel standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Audi TT

Other Audi models first used in 2021

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Audi A3 (2021)4 years in 202511.3%20,71013.4%
Audi A1 (2021)4 years in 202510.3%14,16213.4%
Audi Q2 (2021)4 years in 20257.5%14,16013.4%
Audi Q5 (2021)4 years in 20259.2%11,46013.4%
Audi Q3 (2021)4 years in 20258.2%11,33913.4%
Audi A4 (2021)4 years in 202512.3%7,17313.4%
Audi e-tron (2021)4 years in 20259.5%6,79313.4%
Audi A5 (2021)4 years in 202512.1%5,31913.4%

More on the Audi TT

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2021 Audi TT cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.