Audi S4: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Audi S4 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 5 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,117 individual Audi S4 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 81.7% first-time pass rate means roughly 18 in every 100 Audi S4s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Audi S4 tested had covered 98,619 miles and was built around 2008.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Audi S4 sits 5 points above the national average, ranked 1,392 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

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 S4 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 S4s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Audi S4

1. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.4% of tests (1.54x the national rate for this defect)
2. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 6.2% of tests (1.23x the national rate for this defect)
3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2% of tests (1.19x the national rate for this defect)
4. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.5% of tests
5. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 2.4% of tests
6. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1.6% of tests
7. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 1.5% of tests
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.5% of tests
9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.2% of tests
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.1% of tests

From 1,104 DVSA-tracked Audi S4 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.01% of these flagged Audi S4 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Audi S4

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 S4 before it actually fails on it.

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 3.6% of tests (6.46x the national rate for this advisory)
2. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 3.7% of tests (2.92x the national rate for this advisory)
3. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 12.6% of tests (2.26x the national rate for this advisory)
4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 23.3% of tests (1.74x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
5. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 8.3% of tests (1.61x the national rate for this advisory)
6. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 2.2% of tests (1.59x the national rate for this advisory)
7. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 3.9% of tests (1.37x the national rate for this advisory)
8. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 5.2% of tests (1.32x the national rate for this advisory)
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, 1.8% of tests (1.19x the national rate for this advisory)
10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 20.1% of tests, also fails

From 1,104 DVSA-tracked Audi S4 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

• Ford Tourneo Connect - 81.7%
• Kia Optima - 81.7%
• Audi S5 - 81.7%
• BMW 1 Series - 81.6%
• Tesla Model X Perform Ludicrous Awd - 81.6%
• Toyota Iq - 81.5%

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 S4? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

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Run a garage or parts site? Embed the Audi S4's top real failure reason instead, linked back here.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/audi-s4"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/audi-s4.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="Audi S4 most common MOT failure: A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.4% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate