2020 Audi A4 35 S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 2,699 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Audi A4 35 S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 92.1% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 12.9% in the 90-120k group versus 5.2% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

2,699

MOT tests analysed

7.9%

Fail rate

better than

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 35 S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	4.7%	128
2	Suspension	1.8%	49
3	Lighting & signalling	1.6%	44
4	Visibility	1.3%	34
5	Brakes	0.7%	20
6	Emissions & environmental	0.7%	18

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 35 S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	83
2	Headlamp aim	53
3	Shock absorbers	36
4	Wipers	22
5	Brake pads	20
6	Malfunction indicator lamp	18

Top advisory categories

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

Most common MOT advisories — 2020 Audi A4 35 S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	22.3%	603
2	Brakes	10.5%	283
3	Suspension	8.4%	226
4	Other defects	7.8%	212
5	Visibility	3.6%	97
6	Lighting & signalling	0.1%	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 35 S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	772	5.2%
30-60k	1,250	8.1%
60-90k	497	10.1%
90-120k	147	12.9%

Failure rate by age

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

By fuel type

Fail rate by fuel type — 2020 A4 35 S-A
Fuel	Tests	Fail rate
Diesel	2,030	8.4%
Petrol	669	6.3%

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2020 A4 35 S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2022	40	7.5%
2023	960	8.8%
2024	860	6.4%
2025	839	8.5%

What to check before buying a 2020 A4 35 S-A

Before buying a 2020 Audi A4 35 S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.7% of tests for this year.

Tyres (4.7% 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.
Suspension (1.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Lighting & signalling (1.6% 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 35 S-As pass their MOT?

92.1% of the 2,699 2020 Audi A4 35 S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.9% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi A4 35 S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by suspension (1.8%).

Does the 2020 A4 35 S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.2% in the 0-30k band to 12.9% in the 90-120k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 2,699 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.