Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Audi A5?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2008 Audi A5?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2008 Audi A5?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2008 Audi A5 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

45% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2008 Audi A5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 6,940 vehicles, the 2008 Audi A5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 81.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Audi A5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Audi A5 are: Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (62.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (52.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (50.4% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2008 Audi A5?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Audi A5 (2008)

6,940 real MOT outcomes analysed • 81.3% first-time pass rate

2008 Audi A5

CarHunch analysed 6,940 real MOT records for the 2008 Audi A5. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2008 Audi A5 passes its MOT on the first attempt 81.3% of the time, marginally ahead of the UK average, though the concerning figure here is that 44.8% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above acceptable levels and a genuine red flag for any potential buyer. Petrol and diesel variants perform almost identically (81.8% and 81.0% pass rates respectively), so fuel type isn't a deciding factor.

These A5s are running at around 92,000 miles on average, which is typical for their age, but they're averaging 3 failures and nearly 18 advisories per test, suggesting persistent wear and electrical gremlins rather than catastrophic problems. Before purchasing, get a full pre-buy inspection focused on the braking system, suspension, and electrical components, since the high dangerous defect rate points to these as chronic weak spots on this generation.

The 2008 Audi A5 has a decent first-time pass rate (81.3%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

81.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

44.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.02

Over 15 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

97k

Middle half: 78k–118k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 17.7 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 6,940 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 6,940 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 62.8%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened · …

Tyre wear 52.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 49.8%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 6,940 Audi A5 cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Audi A5

Based on MOT data from 6,940 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 44.8% 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.
🔍 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 →
📄 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 Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (62%)	4,289	81%	3.09
Petrol (38%)	2,649	81.8%	2.91

Colour Breakdown

Based on 140,566 Audi A5 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 31.3%

44,026

Grey 22.4%

31,419

White 18.9%

26,577

Blue 12.6%

17,649

Silver 8.6%

12,063

Red 5.5%

7,715

Green 0.3%

378

Beige 0.2%

246

Brown 0.2%

237

Purple 0.1%

190

Maroon 0%

Orange 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Audi A5 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.

97,393

typical

78,221

low mileage

117,523

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Audi A5 vehicles fall between 78,221 and 117,523 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 78,221 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 78,221–117,523 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Audi A5s sit.

⚠ Over 158,656 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Audi A5 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 53% of 2008 Audi A5s are still active.

3,284 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 53% of the peak remain.

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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.02

Avg failures per vehicle

17.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Audi A5: All A5 years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Audi A5 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing