Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2011 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 2011 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 2011 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 2011 Audi A5 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

48% 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 2011 Audi A5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 12,066 vehicles, the 2011 Audi A5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2011 Audi A5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2011 Audi A5 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (48.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (48.1% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (39.1% 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 2011 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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Audi A5 (2011)

12,066 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83% first-time pass rate

2011 Audi A5

CarHunch analysed 12,066 real MOT records for the 2011 Audi A5. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2011 Audi A5 passes its MOT slightly above the UK average at 82.9%, though nearly half of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significantly higher rate than typical and a legitimate concern for any buyer. Petrol versions edge ahead of diesels with an 84.5% pass rate versus 82.0%, suggesting marginally better long-term durability on petrol.

At 80,000 miles on average, these 14-year-old cars show reasonable mileage for their age, but they're generating 2.38 failures per test and a substantial 16 advisories each, indicating wear is catching up. Before purchase, get a full pre-buy inspection focused on suspension, brakes, and cooling systems—the volume of advisories suggests these areas accumulate issues quickly on this model.

The 2011 Audi A5 has a decent first-time pass rate (83%), 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

83%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

47.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.38

Over 12.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

85k

Middle half: 67k–106k

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 16 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 12,066 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 12,066 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 48.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear 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 39.1%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front 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.

Other issues 37.7%

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 · …

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 12,066 Audi A5 cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.4 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

84.5%

Petrol

4,386 vehicles

82.1%

Diesel

7,680 vehicles

Before you buy a 2011 Audi A5

Based on MOT data from 12,066 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 47.9% 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 (64%)	7,680	82.1%	2.51
Petrol (36%)	4,386	84.5%	2.14

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 2011 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.

85,125

typical

67,099

low mileage

106,312

high mileage

Half of all 2011 Audi A5 vehicles fall between 67,099 and 106,312 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 67,099 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.

✓ 67,099–106,312 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2011 Audi A5s sit.

⚠ Over 143,521 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2011 Audi A5 — Still on the Road

Most 2011 Audi A5s are still being driven.

8,793 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 77% 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

12.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.38

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Or browse all models: Audi →

Compare with another model

See how the 2011 Audi A5 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing