Used car guide

1992 Audi 80: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Audi 80 first registered in 1992: we looked at the 209 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 209 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

209MOTs of 1992 cars, done in 2023–2025
61%pass first time (all 1992 cars: 69%)
3,600typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for tread depth

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1992 Audi 80?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1992 Audi 80 than on all cars registered in 1992.

  • Tread depth2.2× usual
    Audi 80
    14.4% All 1992 cars
    6.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0.7% of all 1992 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

Common 1992 Audi 80 MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1992 Audi 80 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    43% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    34% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    33% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    24% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    23% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    21% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1992 Audi 80

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the tread depth? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 1992 Audi 80 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at an Audi 80?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Audi 80 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2008–Too few tests
1999107Suspension 27%
1995336Suspension 39%
1994735Suspension 43%
1993362Suspension 48%
1991–Too few tests
1990–Too few tests
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1981–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Audi 80 cars first registered in 1992. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score