2012 Audi A4 MOT pass rate: 77.0% (39,888 tests)
Is the 2012 A4 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 78.5% +6.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 76.4% +5.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 75.8% +5.5 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2012 A4
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 4,989 | 24.0% |
| 2 | Tyres | 4,316 | 20.8% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 4,275 | 20.6% |
| 4 | Brakes | 2,556 | 12.3% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 1,882 | 9.1% |
| 6 | Visibility | 1,205 | 5.8% |
All A4 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2,760 | 68.1% | +1.6 pts | 144,997 |
| 2002 | 6,064 | 66.5% | +0.9 pts | 149,856 |
| 2003 | 11,458 | 67.6% | +2.6 pts | 143,484 |
| 2004 | 19,594 | 67.5% | +3.2 pts | 142,220 |
| 2005 | 22,713 | 68.9% | +4.4 pts | 136,716 |
| 2006 | 38,466 | 69.2% | +4.7 pts | 133,471 |
| 2007 | 44,714 | 70.2% | +5.1 pts | 133,551 |
| 2008 | 45,320 | 70.2% | +5.1 pts | 135,469 |
| 2009 | 37,963 | 71.5% | +5.1 pts | 136,026 |
| 2010 | 38,587 | 72.9% | +5.6 pts | 132,423 |
| 2011 | 40,807 | 75.1% | +6.0 pts | 126,868 |
| 2012 (this page) | 39,888 | 77.0% | +5.7 pts | 117,216 |
| 2013 | 47,511 | 77.9% | +4.5 pts | 106,392 |
| 2014 | 50,017 | 78.3% | +2.4 pts | 98,391 |
| 2015 | 48,644 | 79.5% | +0.8 pts | 87,904 |
| 2016 | 65,415 | 81.8% | +0.4 pts | 76,904 |
| 2017 | 62,938 | 83.4% | -0.6 pts | 65,817 |
| 2018 | 40,229 | 84.8% | -1.6 pts | 52,900 |
| 2019 | 38,252 | 87.3% | -1.1 pts | 43,844 |
| 2020 | 17,679 | 89.4% | -0.5 pts | 35,208 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Audi A4 years to avoid.
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- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2012 Audi A4 reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 77.0% of their MOT tests (39,888 tests, 2023–2025), +5.7 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 117,216 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 A4?
The median tested example shows 117,216 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2012 A4?
In this cohort petrols pass 82.4% of tests against 76.1% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.