Reliability report
Audi A5 reliability and common faults
Based on 129,242 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
20.4%
fail rate · average 23.8%
much better than average
113,764 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
32.5%
with defects · average 43.2%
much better than average
6,416 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
69.0%
first-time pass · average 60.4%
much better than average
9,062 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Audi A5
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Driving controls
Plates and identification
Wheels
Tyresconfirmed in 2 countries
Body and structure
Suspension
Exhaust and emissions
Brakes
Visibility
Seat belts and airbags
Lights and electrics
Steering
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 2Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 3Tyre insufficient tread
- 4Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 5Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
- 6Tyre damaged
- 7Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
- 8Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 9Shock absorber shows leakage
- 10Tyre pressure not equal on one axle
- 11Brake lining carrier/fastener touching drum/disc
- 12Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 10.8% avg 9.9% | 25.3% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 16.7% avg 15.3% | 28.7% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 19.2% avg 22.9% | 33.2% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 24.0% avg 30.3% | 38.8% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | 25.2% avg 34.6% | — |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | A5 | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 87.5% | 86.7% | 40 |
| 2020 | 83.3% | 78.6% | 60 |
| 2019 | 79.9% | 83.2% | 199 |
| 2018 | 69.8% | 79.5% | 258 |
| 2017 | 85.2% | 76.6% | 243 |
| 2016 | 73.0% | 72.8% | 122 |
| 2015 | 71.1% | 71.1% | 197 |
| 2014 | 68.3% | 68.0% | 413 |
| 2013 | 72.3% | 65.9% | 717 |
| 2012 | 71.1% | 63.7% | 880 |
| 2011 | 70.6% | 61.2% | 1,022 |
| 2010 | 68.7% | 57.3% | 1,700 |
| 2009 | 66.1% | 54.5% | 1,136 |
| 2008 | 64.2% | 52.4% | 1,522 |
| 2007 | 62.7% | 50.6% | 553 |
Audi A5 – FAQs
How reliable is the Audi A5?+
In the UK the Audi A5 fails 20.4% of MOT tests, against an average of 23.8% for cars of the same age – much better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 32.5% of APK inspections (average there 43.2%) – much better than average. In Lithuania 69.0% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 60.4%) – much better than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Audi A5?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: wheels, tyres.
What should I check when buying a used Audi A5?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Tyre insufficient tread; Low beam incorrectly adjusted; Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Audi models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).