Audi A8 common problems and MOT failures
What goes wrong on a used Audi A8, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 34,411 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.
The 1996 Audi A8
Too few Audi A8 cars first registered in 1996 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Audi A8 as a whole.
What to check on a 1996 car
- MOT history
Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.
- Service history
Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.
- Finance and write-offs
MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.
- Test drive
Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.
Other years
Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995
What usually goes wrong with an Audi A8?
We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Audi A8 in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.
Common Audi A8 MOT failures to check
Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.
Diesel
Anti-roll bar link bushes
up to 10.1× usualStands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) CheckatradeAt the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.
Suspension arm bushes and joints
up to 1.9× usualStands out on cars registered in 2005 and 2007.
Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanicAt the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.
Audi A8 MOT pass rate by year
Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2011 Audi A8 did best (86% passed first time, 24 points above all 2011 cars) and the 2020 did worst (92%, 5 points above all 2020 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.
| Year | Pass first time | All cars that year | MOT tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 95% | 92% +3 | 279 (small sample) |
| 2022 | 95% | 89% +6 | 272 (small sample) |
| 2021 | 94% | 87% +7 | 590 |
| 2020 | 92% | 87% +5 | 1,198 |
| 2019 | 93% | 85% +8 | 2,195 |
| 2018 | 92% | 83% +9 | 2,898 |
| 2017 | 92% | 80% +12 | 1,990 |
| 2016 | 91% | 77% +14 | 2,680 |
| 2015 | 90% | 74% +16 | 2,877 |
| 2014 | 91% | 70% +21 | 2,566 |
| 2013 | 89% | 67% +22 | 2,168 |
| 2012 | 87% | 64% +23 | 2,170 |
| 2011 | 86% | 62% +24 | 2,135 |
| 2010 | 83% | 60% +23 | 1,391 |
| 2009 | 81% | 59% +22 | 1,149 |
| 2008 | 80% | 57% +23 | 2,004 |
| 2007 | 77% | 57% +20 | 1,669 |
| 2006 | 77% | 56% +21 | 1,148 |
| 2005 | 76% | 57% +19 | 1,005 |
| 2004 | 76% | 57% +19 | 618 |
| 2003 | 69% | 57% +12 | 337 (small sample) |
| 2002 | 75% | 58% +17 | 303 (small sample) |
| 2001 | 75% | 60% +15 | 274 (small sample) |
| 2000 | 65% | 61% +4 | 196 (small sample) |
| 1999 | 67% | 63% +4 | 165 (small sample) |
| 1998 | 63% | 65% -2 | 134 (small sample) |
Questions to ask the seller before buying an Audi A8
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link bushes? (Flagged at MOT 9.1× as often on the Audi A8 as on other cars the same age.)
- Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the Audi A8 as on other cars the same age.)
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
Looking at an Audi A8?
Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score