Audi A4 - 2004
389.1 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2004 is 384.6 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Audi A4, model year 2004.
Sample size: 6,906 cars, 14,539 tests and 56,564 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 6,906 cars
The 2004 Audi A4 has a slightly higher overall defect rate than the average car of the same year, with 389 defects per 100 vehicles compared to 382. Notably, the Audi A4 performs better in the categories of steering, body/structure, and equipment, showing significantly lower defect rates in these areas. However, it stands out negatively in the wheels, suspensions, and axles category, with a defect rate of 374 compared to the average of 309. Mileage-related trends indicate that as the vehicle ages, the defect rate increases, particularly in the higher mileage brackets. Overall, while the A4 has some strengths, it faces challenges in specific areas that may require attention.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 6,906 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 15.6% better
138.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 164.2 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- 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
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 35.3% better
16.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 24.9 / 100 tests
- 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.
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▲ 20.1% better
23.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.3 / 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
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
- Wiper blade: defective
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 1.1% better
108.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 109.9 / 100 tests
- Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
- Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 19.6% worse
374.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 312.9 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▲ 25.9% better
47.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 63.6 / 100 tests
- 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
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
Equipment
▲ 25.4% better
10.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.8 / 100 tests
- ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Other
▼ 18.2% worse
59.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 50.5 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit
- Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 9,225
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 4,806
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,232
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,902
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,549
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
MINOR
Occurrences: 1,874
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,782
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,759
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,563
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 1,041
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,782
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 555
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 449
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
FAIL
Occurrences: 414
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 408
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 351
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 331
Warning device shows system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 331
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 321
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 310