Comparison · executive cars

Audi A4 vs Ford Mondeo: which is more reliable?

The Audi A4 does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 100 for the Ford Mondeo, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 435,695 real MOT tests in 2024.

Audi A4

106Above average

MOT tests244,655

Ford Mondeo

100About average

MOT tests191,040

By age

MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).

Age at test	Audi A4	Ford Mondeo
3–5 years	102About average	98About average
6–9 years	102Above average	105Above average
10–14 years	110Well above average	100About average
15+ years	109Well above average	97Below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Audi A4	Ford Mondeo
2021	87.7%	81.8%
2020	88.6%	83.3%
2019	86.5%	85.3%
2018	83.5%	84.8%
2017	81.1%	83.4%
2016	78.5%	81.0%
2015	75.7%	77.5%
2014	73.9%	68.6%
2013	72.9%	66.5%
2012	71.3%	64.8%
2011	69.4%	63.2%
2010	67.7%	59.6%
2009	65.7%	57.9%
2008	63.1%	55.3%
2007	62.5%	54.8%
2006	61.4%	55.7%
2005	61.0%	54.6%
2004	59.0%	54.3%
2003	58.3%	55.6%
2002	58.4%	55.7%
2001	59.8%	56.5%
2000	63.0%	56.8%
1999	66.2%	59.1%
1998	69.0%	58.1%
1997	62.1%	60.6%
1996	69.2%	63.0%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Audi A4	Ford Mondeo
Lights & electrics	11.5	19.3
Suspension	11.3	13.8
Brakes	7.6	13.1
Tyres	8.8	9.9
Body & chassis	4.6	5.1
Emissions & leaks	3.9	5.3
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	3.4	4.6
Steering	1.5	2.6

Audi A4: top failures

Coil spring: fractured or broken3.4%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.2%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.8%
Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.9%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.6%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.4%

Ford Mondeo: top failures

Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.0%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.6%
Position lamp: not working2.5%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.3%
Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.2%
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.3%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Audi A4 or the Ford Mondeo?

The Audi A4 does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 100 for the Ford Mondeo, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Audi A4 and Ford Mondeo can be compared?

Both were tested for 26 registration years (1996–2021). The Audi A4 had the higher pass rate in 22 of them and the Ford Mondeo in 4.

What fails most on each?

Audi A4: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Ford Mondeo: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick.