2021 Audi A1 25 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,826 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Audi A1 25, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and brakes. Its pass rate of 91.4% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.3%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 275 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.7% | 80 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.5% | 72 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 64 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.2% | 58 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 231 |
| 2 | Washers | 62 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 60 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 47 |
| 5 | Wipers | 17 |
| 6 | Headlamp cleaning device | 14 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.1% | 1,258 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.0% | 627 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.1% | 246 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 129 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 34 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.4% | 18 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 2,914 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,805 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 100 | 9.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 146 | 6.9% |
| 2024 | 2,375 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 2,301 | 8.8% |
What to check before buying a 2021 A1 25
Before buying a 2021 Audi A1 25, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.7% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (1.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (1.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2021 Audi A1 25s pass their MOT?
91.4% of the 4,826 2021 Audi A1 25 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Audi A1 25?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by visibility (1.7%).
Does the 2021 A1 25 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 9.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,826 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.