Audi 80: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Audi 80 fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 5.3 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 831 individual Audi 80 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 71.4% first-time pass rate means roughly 29 in every 100 Audi 80s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Audi 80 tested had covered 133,530 miles and was built around 1993.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Audi 80 sits 5.3 points below the national average, ranked 1,727 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Audi 80 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Audi 80s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Audi 80

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 2.2% of tests (23.32x the national rate for this defect)
2. A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing excessively worn, 2.2% of tests (21.1x the national rate for this defect)
3. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 3.4% of tests (9.53x the national rate for this defect)
4. An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.5% of tests (7.94x the national rate for this defect)
5. Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, 1.9% of tests (7.09x the national rate for this defect)
6. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.7% of tests (3.56x the national rate for this defect)
7. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 4.7% of tests (3.07x the national rate for this defect)
8. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.1% of tests (3.02x the national rate for this defect)
9. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 2.9% of tests (2.86x the national rate for this defect)
10. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2.7% of tests (2.04x the national rate for this defect)

From 830 DVSA-tracked Audi 80 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 2.69% of these flagged Audi 80 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Audi 80

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Audi 80 before it actually fails on it.

1. A wheel bearing with excessive play, 19.8% of tests (30.45x the national rate for this advisory)
2. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 7% of tests (12.47x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 9.3% of tests (7.29x the national rate for this advisory)
4. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 18% of tests (3.8x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 9.9% of tests (3.47x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
6. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 16.9% of tests (3.03x the national rate for this advisory)
7. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 13.7% of tests (2.65x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 4.7% of tests (2.35x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
9. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 3.4% of tests (2.22x the national rate for this advisory)
10. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.6% of tests (1.73x the national rate for this advisory)

From 830 DVSA-tracked Audi 80 tests, 2024.

Other Audi models

• Audi A3 - 78.1%
• Audi A4 - 76.3%
• Audi A1 - 79.5%
• Audi A6 - 81.9%
• Audi A5 - 80.4%
• Audi Tt - 78.8%
• Audi Q3 - 83.5%
• Audi Q5 - 84.8%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Volkswagen Polo - 71.4%
• Toyota Rav-4 - 71.4%
• Peugeot Rcz - 71.4%
• SEAT Ibiza - 71.3%
• Hyundai Santa Fe - 71.3%
• Audi Cabriolet - 71.2%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

Embed this data

Run a site about the Audi 80? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/audi-80"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/audi-80.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="Audi 80 MOT Pass Rate: 71.4% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

Run a garage or parts site? Embed the Audi 80's top real failure reason instead, linked back here.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/audi-80"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/audi-80.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="Audi 80 most common MOT failure: A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched (2.2% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate