Audi A8 - 2004
247.0 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 A8, model year 2004.
Sample size: 216 cars, 413 tests and 1,020 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 216 cars
The 2004 Audi A8 has an overall defect rate of 247 per 100 vehicles, which is 35% better than the average of 382 for cars of the same year. This model shows particularly low defect rates in categories such as brakes, steering, and visibility, performing significantly better than average in each of these areas. Notably, the A8 has fewer issues with body structure and equipment as well. However, in the mileage brackets, the highest defect rates are seen in vehicles with less than 31,000 miles, suggesting that newer models may not always be free from defects. Overall, the Audi A8 stands out for its reliability compared to similar vehicles from 2004.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 216 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 25.1% better
123.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 164.2 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
Steering
▲ 69.1% better
7.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 24.9 / 100 tests
- 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
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▲ 29.0% better
20.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.3 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 46.7% better
58.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 109.9 / 100 tests
- Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
- Lamp: multiple light source up to a half not functioning
- Beam image obviously incorrect
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- 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
▲ 30.5% better
217.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 312.9 / 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 shock absorber bush excessively worn
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▲ 50.5% better
31.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 63.6 / 100 tests
- Fuel system: leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap
- 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
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▲ 54.3% better
6.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.8 / 100 tests
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- Audible warning:
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
Other
▲ 43.4% better
28.6 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
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit
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: 170
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 111
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 99
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 44
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 41
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 39
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 37
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 28
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 21
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 21
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 37
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 7
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 5
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 5
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: likely to become detached
FAIL
Occurrences: 4