Audi S4 - 2004
284.9 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 S4, model year 2004.
Sample size: 165 cars, 337 tests and 960 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: 165 cars
The 2004 Audi S4 has an overall defect rate of 285 defects per 100 vehicles, which is significantly lower than the average of 382 defects per 100 vehicles, indicating a 25% improvement. Notably, the model excels in categories such as brakes, steering, visibility, and lights and electrics, showing a much lower failure rate compared to the average vehicle from the same year. However, it does exhibit a higher incidence of defects in the "Other" category, where it performs worse than average. Mileage trends show increased defects with higher mileage, especially noted in the 124,000+ miles segment. Overall, the Audi S4 stands out for its reliability in key areas while facing some challenges in less defined issues.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 165 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 49.4% better
83.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 164.2 / 100 tests
- Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
Steering
▲ 71.5% better
7.1 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: damaged or deteriorated
- 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
- Power steering fluid: level below minimum mark
Visibility
▲ 61.4% better
11.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.3 / 100 tests
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
- An obstruction: materially affecting the driver’s view of the road through the swept area of the windscreen or an obligatory external mirror not visible
Lights & Electrics
▲ 37.4% better
68.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 109.9 / 100 tests
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- 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 only one lamp or all lamps not working
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 12.0% better
275.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 312.9 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▲ 44.0% better
35.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 63.6 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- A main load-bearing structural member: fractured or deformed such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced
- 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
▼ 11.6% worse
15.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.8 / 100 tests
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type
Other
▼ 44.6% worse
73.0 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
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
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: 116
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 114
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 102
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 64
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 46
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 42
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 41
Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 32
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 31
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: 25
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 31
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has only one lamp or all lamps not working
FAIL
Occurrences: 7
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 5
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 5
Headlamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 5
An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 5