2020 Audi A4 30 S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 1,013 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Audi A4 30 S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 89.7% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (90.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 13.3% in the 90-120k group versus 6.9% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

1,013

MOT tests analysed

10.3%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars of similar age

3.9

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2020 Audi A4 30 S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	6.1%	62
2	Visibility	2.1%	21
3	Lighting & signalling	1.5%	15
4	Suspension	1.3%	13
5	Brakes	1.3%	13
6	Emissions & environmental	0.8%	8

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2020 Audi A4 30 S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	33
2	Headlamp aim	19
3	Wipers	11
4	Shock absorbers	10
5	Brake pads	10
6	Washers	10

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2020 Audi A4 30 S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	27.9%	283
2	Brakes	15.3%	155
3	Suspension	8.0%	81
4	Other defects	7.8%	79
5	Visibility	3.4%	34
6	Road wheels	0.4%	4

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2020 A4 30 S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	159	6.9%
30-60k	527	11.2%
60-90k	253	10.3%
90-120k	60	13.3%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2020 A4 30 S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	374	12.6%
2024	337	10.1%
2025	283	7.4%

What to check before buying a 2020 A4 30 S-A

Before buying a 2020 Audi A4 30 S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.1% of tests for this year.

Tyres (6.1% 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 (2.1% 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.
Lighting & signalling (1.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.

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 2020 Audi A4 30 S-As pass their MOT?

89.7% of the 1,013 2020 Audi A4 30 S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.3% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi A4 30 S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by visibility (2.1%).

Does the 2020 A4 30 S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 13.3% in the 90-120k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 1,013 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.