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Audi A4 - 1998

388.5 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1998 is 342.9 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Audi A4, model year 1998. Sample size: 493 cars, 949 tests and 3,687 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 493 cars

The 1998 Audi A4 has an overall defect rate of 389 per 100 vehicles, which is 14.5% higher than the average for cars of the same year. Notably, it performs better than average in the Equipment category, with a significantly lower defect rate. However, it shows a higher occurrence of issues in the Wheels, Suspensions & Axles and Other categories, indicating specific areas of concern for this model. Mileage trends reveal that defect rates increase with higher mileage, particularly in the 93,000 to 124,000 mile range, where the Audi A4's rate is above average.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 493 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
▼ 10.4% worse
165.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 149.4 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
Steering
▲ 2.0% better
25.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.6 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
Visibility
▲ 0.8% better
26.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.3 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
Lights & Electrics
▲ 0.4% better
66.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 66.7 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 36.9% worse
353.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 257.8 / 100 tests
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A wheel bearing: with excessive play
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
Body/Structure
▲ 20.1% better
64.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 80.5 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▲ 61.8% better
7.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 20.4 / 100 tests
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt:
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): anchorage likely to become detached in the event of a collision
Other
▼ 17.5% worse
69.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 59.0 / 100 tests
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 552 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)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 356
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 332
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 259
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 205
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 176
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 159
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 155
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 138
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 103
Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 90

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 89
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 50
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 25
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
FAIL
Occurrences: 23
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 21
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 21
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 19
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 19
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 17