Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 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 2013 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 2013 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 2013 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 2013 Audi A5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 12,518 vehicles, the 2013 Audi A5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 84.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Audi A5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Audi A5 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (50.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (50.2% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (32% 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 2013 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 (2013)

12,518 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84.8% first-time pass rate

2013 Audi A5

CarHunch analysed 12,518 real MOT records for the 2013 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 2013 Audi A5 passes its MOT first time at 84.8%, which is comfortably above the UK average of 80%, but there's a serious caveat: 45% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above the typical threshold for buyer concern. Petrol models perform better than diesels (87.2% vs 84.1% pass rate), suggesting the petrol engine is the more straightforward option.

At 74,500 miles median, these A5s are showing typical wear for their age—nothing alarming there—but the 12.3 average advisories per vehicle tells you that routine maintenance bills are real and ongoing. Before committing to one, insist on a full service history and get a trusted mechanic to inspect the suspension, brakes, and cooling system, as these are where the advisory flags concentrate on this model.

The 2013 Audi A5 has a decent first-time pass rate (84.8%), 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

84.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

45%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.8

Over 10.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

75k

Middle half: 58k–94k

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 12.3 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 12,518 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 12,518 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 50.6%

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 30.9%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front 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.

Suspension & steering 17.9%

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil · Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 12.3%

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 12,518 Audi A5 cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 3.1 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

87.2%

Petrol

2,825 vehicles

84.1%

Diesel

9,692 vehicles

Before you buy a 2013 Audi A5

Based on MOT data from 12,518 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 45% 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 (77%)	9,692	84.1%	1.88
Petrol (23%)	2,825	87.2%	1.54

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 2013 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.

74,503

typical

57,973

low mileage

94,176

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Audi A5 vehicles fall between 57,973 and 94,176 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 57,973 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.

✓ 57,973–94,176 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Audi A5s sit.

⚠ Over 127,137 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Audi A5 — Still on the Road

Most 2013 Audi A5s are still being driven.

Strong survival — 9,972 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 84% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* 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

10.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.8

Avg failures per vehicle

12.3

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 2013 Audi A5 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing