Audi A6 common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Audi A6 at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 129,292 UK MOT tests of the Audi A6 in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is mounting (mounting corroded but not seriously weakened): recorded on 3% of tests of 2019–2021 cars at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km), 30× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: linkage pins and bushes (pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement) (16×); linkage pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) (16×); tyres (a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords) (2.7×). The most common reasons a Audi A6 fails its MOT are tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm); coil spring (fractured or broken); position lamp (not working).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Audi A6
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Audi A6 than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mounting: mounting corroded but not seriously weakened | Advisory | 2019–2021 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 3% | 0.1% | 30× | 1,209 |
| Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | Advisory | 2009–2011 | 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 6.6% | 0.4% | 16× | 3,697 |
| Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | MOT fail | 2009–2011 | 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 3.2% | 0.2% | 16× | 3,176 |
| Tyres (condition): has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Advisory | 2009–2011 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 3% | 1.1% | 2.7× | 1,043 |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | Advisory | 2014–2016 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 6.1% | 2.6% | 2.3× | 1,498 |
| Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil | Advisory | 2004–2006 | 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 12% | 5.6% | 2.1× | 3,833 |
| Flexible brake hoses: slightly deteriorated | Advisory | 2002–2004 | 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 6.3% | 2.3% | 2.7× | 349 |
| Tyres (tread depth): tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | MOT fail | 2019–2021 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 3% | 1.7% | 1.8× | 6,355 |
Audi A6 by mileage (2016–2018 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 421 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (7.1%) | — |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 4,529 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (13%) | — |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 9,717 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (15%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (3.6%, 1.6×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 8,204 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (17%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (4.7%, 1.6×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 4,640 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (18%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.9%, 1.7×) |
| 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 2,138 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (17%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (6.1%, 1.5×) |
| 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 977 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (16%) | — |
| 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 401 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (19%) | — |
| 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 395 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (18%) | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.1%, 2×) |
Audi A6 by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 259 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (2.2×) |
| 2001 | 262 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (2.2×) |
| 2002 | 545 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (2.2×) |
| 2003 | 920 | Flexible brake hoses: slightly deteriorated at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (2.7×) |
| 2004 | 1,401 | Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (4.3×) |
| 2005 | 2,383 | Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (6.2×) |
| 2006 | 4,105 | Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (7.6×) |
| 2007 | 6,783 | Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (10×) |
| 2008 | 6,630 | Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (12×) |
| 2009 | 4,636 | Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (16×) |
| 2010 | 7,114 | Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (16×) |
| 2011 | 7,350 | Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (11×) |
| 2012 | 8,404 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (1.9×) |
| 2013 | 10,649 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (2.8×) |
| 2014 | 10,918 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (2.1×) |
| 2015 | 11,470 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (2.3×) |
| 2016 | 13,522 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (1.9×) |
| 2017 | 9,532 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (2×) |
| 2018 | 8,368 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (1.6×) |
| 2019 | 9,308 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (1.7×) |
| 2020 | 3,869 | Mounting: mounting corroded but not seriously weakened at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (30×) |
| 2021 | 246 | Tyres (tread depth): tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (1.9×) |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Audi A6?
In 129,292 UK MOT tests of the Audi A6 in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is mounting (mounting corroded but not seriously weakened): recorded on 3% of tests of 2019–2021 cars at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km), 30× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: linkage pins and bushes (pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement) (16×); linkage pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) (16×); tyres (a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords) (2.7×). The most common reasons a Audi A6 fails its MOT are tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm); coil spring (fractured or broken); position lamp (not working).
Why do Audi A6s fail the MOT?
Across 129,292 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Audi A6 were tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm) (3.1% of tests); coil spring (fractured or broken) (3.1% of tests); position lamp (not working) (4.9% of tests).
At what mileage do Audi A6 problems start?
The clearest Audi A6-specific issue, mounting (mounting corroded but not seriously weakened), peaks against other cars at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) on 2019–2021 cars (3% of tests vs 0.1% for all cars that age).
Where does this Audi A6 data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 129,292 tests of the Audi A6. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.