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Audi A4 - 2012

196.9 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2012 is 249.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Audi A4, model year 2012. Sample size: 14,784 cars, 33,281 tests and 65,535 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 14,784 cars

The 2012 Audi A4 has an overall defect rate of 197 per 100 vehicles, which is 20% lower than the average rate of 246 per 100 for cars of the same year. This model shows a rising trend in defects as mileage increases, particularly in the highest mileage category of over 124,000 miles, where it still performs better than average. Notably, the A4 excels in categories such as brakes and steering, with significantly lower defects compared to other vehicles, while also showing better performance in lights and electrics, body/structure, and equipment. Overall, this model demonstrates a strong reliability profile relative to its peers.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 14,784 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
▲ 32.9% better
69.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 103.8 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 81.8% better
2.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.2 / 100 tests
  • Excessive wear or play in a universal joint or a flexible coupling excessively deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
Visibility
▲ 12.0% better
16.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 19.2 / 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
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 48.8% better
31.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.9 / 100 tests
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
  • Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 1.5% better
240.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 244.4 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▲ 30.5% better
18.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.2 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • 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
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
Equipment
▲ 41.9% better
3.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 6.2 / 100 tests
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Other
▲ 55.9% better
10.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 23.6 / 100 tests
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 402 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)

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 11,532
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 10,980
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,882
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,419
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,258
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,799
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,981
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,437
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,289
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 1,165

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,437
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,142
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 997
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 832
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 675
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 598
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 568
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 542
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 414
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 412