2012 · 12 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2012 Audi A1 MOT pass rate and common faults

18,241 MOT tests in 2024. 67.6% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time67.6%
Failed or needed repairs32.4%
Typical mileage at test86,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 18,241 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.0%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.7%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.0%
    910 marked dangerous
  4. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.4%
  5. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.3%
  6. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.1%
    550 marked dangerous
  7. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.9%
    503 marked dangerous
  8. Service brake performance: excessively binding1.7%
  9. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.6%
  10. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.6%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension14.4%
  2. Lights & electrics14.2%
  3. Tyres9.6%
  4. Brakes9.2%
  5. Body & chassis5.2%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.5%
  7. Emissions & leaks3.8%
  8. Steering1.3%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.8%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened16.9%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.7%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure9.6%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick6.8%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Audi A1?

In 2024, 67.6% of 2012 Audi A1 cars passed their MOT first time, across 18,241 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Audi A1?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2012 Audi A1 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 105, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).