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Audi A4 - 1996

368.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1996 is 337.1 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Audi A4, model year 1996. Sample size: 187 cars, 366 tests and 1,347 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 187 cars

The 1996 Audi A4 has an overall defect rate of 368 per 100 vehicles, which is 11.7% higher than the average car from the same year. This model shows a particularly concerning trend in the brakes category, with a defect rate significantly worse than average at 205 per 100 vehicles compared to the average of 136. Conversely, it performs notably better in equipment defects, with only 5 per 100 vehicles, compared to the average of 24. The defect rates increase with mileage, particularly from 93,000 miles onwards, suggesting potential reliability issues as the vehicle ages.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 187 cars

More model years for Audi A4

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Other models from Audi

Audi A1 Audi A2 Audi A3 Audi A4 Audi A5 Audi A6 Audi A7 Audi A8 Audi ALLROAD Audi E-TRON Audi Q2 Audi Q3 Audi Q4 Audi Q5 Audi Q7 Audi Q8 Audi R8 Audi RS4 Audi S3 Audi S4 Audi TT

Categories

Brakes
▼ 50.0% worse
204.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 136.6 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 16.6% better
25.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 30.8 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▲ 2.9% better
26.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 27.6 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▼ 3.2% worse
68.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 66.2 / 100 tests
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 15.6% worse
271.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 234.4 / 100 tests
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A wheel bearing: with excessive play
Body/Structure
▲ 19.9% better
69.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 86.6 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A door hinge, catch or pillar: excessively deteriorated
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
Equipment
▲ 81.2% better
4.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.0 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt:
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
Other
▲ 1.4% better
65.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.9 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
  • Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 536 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 132
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 107
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 94
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 85
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 71
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 51
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 48
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 41
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 40
Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 38

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 40
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 10
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 7
Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 6