Used car guide

1996 Audi A6 petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Audi A6 first registered in 1996 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 181 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 181 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

181MOTs of 1996 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
66%pass first time (all 1996 cars: 66%)
5,800typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for brake discs

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1996 Audi A6 petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1996 Audi A6 petrol than on all cars registered in 1996.

  • Brake discs2.2× usual
    Audi A6
    18.8% All 1996 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.5% of all 1996 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.

Common 1996 Audi A6 petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1996 Audi A6 petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    33% 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
    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.

  • Lights and electrics
    28% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    25% 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 an engine warning light.

  • 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.

  • Tyres
    18% 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1996 Audi A6 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 brake discs? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 1996 Audi A6 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at an Audi A6?

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 A6 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
20231,020Tyres 9%
20224,294Tyres 25%
20219,381Tyres 24%
202010,889Tyres 24%
201926,609Tyres 25%
201824,420Tyres 27%
201727,966Tyres 26%
201639,483Tyres 26%
201533,611Tyres 27%
201431,807Tyres 29%
201331,000Tyres 30%
201224,074Tyres 31%
201120,795Tyres 32%
201019,945Suspension 36%
200912,790Suspension 37%
200816,976Suspension 44%
200716,755Suspension 42%
20069,770Suspension 45%
20055,571Suspension 46%
20043,279Suspension 45%
20032,204Suspension 48%
20021,275Suspension 48%
2001640Suspension 47%
2000643Suspension 44%
1999435Suspension 51%
1998199Suspension 52%
1997227Suspension 40%
1995121Brakes 36%
1994–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 A6 cars first registered in 1996. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score