Diesel Audi A2: MOT pass rate

62.3% of diesel Audi A2s pass the MOT first time, measured across 3,783 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 148,009.

Diesel against the other Audi A2 versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Audi A2 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 63.6%, and this diesel version sits 0.5 points below the 62.8% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Audi A2 had covered 148,009 miles at test, against 106,401 for the petrol. That is very high mileage. Clutches, dual-mass flywheels and head gaskets have usually been through at least one repair by this point, so ask for evidence rather than assume the car is original everywhere.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Audi A2 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Audi A2

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 2.8% of tests (29.91x the national rate for this defect)
2. Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle., 4.5% of tests (8.64x the national rate for this defect)
3. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.6% of tests (4.8x the national rate for this defect)
4. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 2.7% of tests (4.58x the national rate for this defect)
5. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 5.7% of tests (4.42x the national rate for this defect)
6. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.6% of tests (3.47x the national rate for this defect)
7. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 7.8% of tests (3.33x the national rate for this defect)
8. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 6.1% of tests (3.32x the national rate for this defect)
9. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 4.5% of tests (2.93x the national rate for this defect)
10. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 3.7% of tests (2.86x the national rate for this defect)

From 3,810 DVSA-tracked diesel Audi A2 tests, 2024, split out from the Audi A2's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Audi A2

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 6.4% of tests (4.64x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 4% of tests (3.58x the national rate for this defect)
3. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 6.7% of tests (3.35x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 3.5% of tests (3.32x the national rate for this defect)
5. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 7.7% of tests (2.91x the national rate for this defect)
6. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 10.5% of tests (2.69x the national rate for this defect)
7. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 14.8% of tests (2.66x the national rate for this defect)
8. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 12.4% of tests (2.63x the national rate for this defect)
9. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 11.9% of tests (1.92x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 9% of tests (1.73x the national rate for this defect)

From 3,810 DVSA-tracked diesel Audi A2 tests, 2024.

Other Audi A2 fuel types

• Petrol Audi A2 - 63.6%

All Audi A2 MOT data · Every model