Audi A4 (2003)
2003 Audi A4
CarHunch analysed 33,126 real MOT records for the 2003 Audi A4.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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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.
The 2003 Audi A4 has a decent first-time pass rate (76.2%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.
These stats describe 33,126 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.
What tends to go wrong
Across 33,126 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 33,126 Audi A4 cars.
Before you buy a 2003 Audi A4
Based on MOT data from 33,126 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
29.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded -
recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle. -
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Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price.
Inspection
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Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically.
History
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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 | 76.6% | 4.02 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 554,172 Audi A4 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2003 Audi A4 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle 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 thinning — 11% of 2003 Audi A4s are still active.
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.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.
MOT History Averages
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Compare with another model
See how the 2003 Audi A4 stacks up against a rival.