Audi A4 (2016)

24,763 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.6% first-time pass rate

2016 Audi A4

CarHunch analysed 24,763 real MOT records for the 2016 Audi A4. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2016 Audi A4 passes its MOT first time at 85.6%, beating the UK average of 80%, but nearly 30% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a notably high figure that warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection. Petrol versions perform better than diesels (87.4% versus 84.9% pass rates), so fuel type choice matters here.

At around 66,000 miles median mileage for an eight-year-old car, these A4s are running at expected wear levels, and the average of 1.08 failures per test suggests most problems are caught and fixed promptly. With 7.6 advisories per vehicle on average, focus your pre-buy checks on suspension, brakes, and cooling systems—the typical weak points that don't yet fail but signal where money will go soon.

Below average reliability 5.6% above UK average
85.6%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
66,305
typical mileage
51,152–86,209 middle half
29.7%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.08
avg MOT failures per car
over 7.4 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2016 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.

Inspection ClickMechanic Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying

CarHunch may earn a small commission if you buy via these links — at no extra cost to you.

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (71%) 17,498 84.9% 1.12
Petrol (29%) 7,259 87.4% 0.97
Other (0%) 5 76.7% 0.6
Diesel (0%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 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.

51,152
low mileage
66,305
typical
86,209
high mileage

Half of all 2016 Audi A4 vehicles fall between 51,152 and 86,209 miles.

2016 Audi A4 — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 20,850 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 89% of the peak.

23,343 20,850 2019 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.

MOT History Averages

7.4
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.08
Avg failures per vehicle
7.6
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2016 Audi A4

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 43.6%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 43.1%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 32.1%
    Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 25.6%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 23.7%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 23.4%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 15.1%
    Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()
  • 13.5%
    Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Audi A4?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Audi A4:

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021