Audi A4 (2003)
2003 Audi A4
CarHunch analysed 33,126 real MOT records for the 2003 Audi A4. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2003 Audi A4 falls short of the UK average by nearly 4 percentage points, with a first-time pass rate of just 76.1%, and nearly 30% of these cars have recorded dangerous defects at some point—a meaningful concern for buyers prioritising safety. Petrol and diesel variants perform almost identically (76.5% and 75.8% respectively), so fuel type isn't a differentiator here.
At an average mileage of 102,000 miles for a 21-year-old car, these A4s are showing their age: they rack up an average of 4.14 failures and 21.6 advisories per test, indicating widespread wear across electrics, suspension, and emissions systems. Before buying, insist on a full service history and get a pre-purchase inspection from an Audi specialist, since these cars need consistent maintenance to avoid expensive problems.
What to check before buying a 2003 Audi A4
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 29.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Audi A4
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (58%) | 19,060 | 75.8% | 4.23 |
| Petrol (42%) | 14,041 | 76.5% | 4.02 |
| LPG (0%) | 17 | 78.9% | 3 |
| Other (0%) | 7 | 70.2% | 1.57 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 1 | 70% | 3 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2003 Audi A4 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2003 Audi A4 vehicles fall between 89,921 and 135,957 miles.
2003 Audi A4 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 2,687 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (11% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2003 Audi A4
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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84.1%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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79.3%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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78.8%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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72%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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54.9%
Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
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53.8%
Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated
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53.3%
Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated
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37.4%
Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Audi A4?
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