Part of the Audi A4 B9 (2015–2024) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2016 Audi A4 petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Audi A4 first registered in 2016 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 20,627 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

20,627MOTs of 2016 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
83%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 77%)
8,000typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2016 Audi A4 petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2016 Audi A4 petrol than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.1× usual
    Audi A4
    10.2% All 2016 cars
    4.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.9% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Coil springs33× usual
    Audi A4
    3.3% All 2016 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

Common 2016 Audi A4 petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2016 Audi A4 petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    28% 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.

  • Suspension
    18% 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.

  • Brakes
    16% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Lights and electrics
    4% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Known faults on the 2016 Audi A4 petrol

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2016 Audi A4 petrol

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

  1. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2016 Audi A4 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 33× as often on the 2016 Audi A4 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at an Audi A4?

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 A4 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023362Tyres 19%
20227,043Tyres 28%
202114,494Tyres 28%
202025,381Tyres 28%
201939,575Tyres 30%
201840,399Tyres 28%
201763,211Tyres 28%
201548,854Tyres 31%
201450,261Tyres 31%
201347,748Tyres 32%
201240,105Tyres 33%
201141,085Suspension 39%
201038,856Suspension 40%
200938,253Suspension 41%
200845,736Suspension 47%
200745,101Suspension 48%
200638,799Suspension 50%
200522,925Suspension 49%
200419,785Suspension 50%
200311,574Suspension 52%
20026,124Suspension 54%
20012,778Suspension 48%
20002,815Suspension 45%
19992,189Suspension 46%
19981,448Suspension 45%
1997812Suspension 49%
1996551Suspension 46%
1995174Brakes 40%

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 A4 cars first registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score