2012 Audi A6 MOT pass rate: 81.9% (23,981 tests)
Is the 2012 A6 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 81.9% +9.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 81.9% +10.9 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 81.9% +11.6 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 A6
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 2,454 | 27.2% |
| 2 | Tyres | 2,421 | 26.8% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,509 | 16.7% |
| 4 | Brakes | 896 | 9.9% |
| 5 | Visibility | 584 | 6.5% |
| 6 | Body, chassis, structure | 471 | 5.2% |
All A6 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2,184 | 67.9% | +3.0 pts | 149,512 |
| 2004 | 3,234 | 69.4% | +5.1 pts | 152,087 |
| 2005 | 5,513 | 71.8% | +7.3 pts | 159,252 |
| 2006 | 9,688 | 73.2% | +8.7 pts | 162,579 |
| 2007 | 16,621 | 74.1% | +9.0 pts | 159,248 |
| 2008 | 16,845 | 73.8% | +8.7 pts | 152,874 |
| 2009 | 12,702 | 76.2% | +9.8 pts | 148,711 |
| 2010 | 19,780 | 75.9% | +8.6 pts | 141,305 |
| 2011 | 20,654 | 77.4% | +8.2 pts | 131,982 |
| 2012 (this page) | 23,981 | 81.9% | +10.7 pts | 122,585 |
| 2013 | 30,863 | 83.0% | +9.6 pts | 111,584 |
| 2014 | 31,671 | 83.5% | +7.6 pts | 102,576 |
| 2015 | 33,453 | 85.9% | +7.2 pts | 93,074 |
| 2016 | 39,274 | 86.7% | +5.4 pts | 81,324 |
| 2017 | 27,856 | 88.3% | +4.2 pts | 70,327 |
| 2018 | 24,321 | 89.2% | +2.8 pts | 57,656 |
| 2019 | 24,245 | 90.5% | +2.0 pts | 49,519 |
| 2020 | 5,157 | 91.7% | +1.8 pts | 37,422 |
| 2021 | 1,826 | 91.4% | +1.0 pts | 37,486 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Audi A6 years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
- Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2012 Audi A6 reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 81.9% of their MOT tests (23,981 tests, 2023–2025), +10.7 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 122,585 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 A6?
The median tested example shows 122,585 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 A6?
In this cohort petrols pass 88.2% of tests against 81.8% 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.