Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 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 2018 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 2018 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 2018 Audi A5 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

24% 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 2018 Audi A5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 12,088 vehicles, the 2018 Audi A5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Audi A5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Audi A5 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (38.2% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (37.8% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (27.9% 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 2018 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 (2018)

12,088 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.5% first-time pass rate

2018 Audi A5

CarHunch analysed 12,088 real MOT records for the 2018 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 2018 Audi A5 passes its MOT first time at 86.3%, comfortably ahead of the UK average of 80%, though nearly a quarter of examples have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a concern for used buyers that warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection. Petrol versions perform slightly better than diesels (87.0% vs 84.2% pass rate), suggesting the petrol engine is the more robust choice.

At 38,372 miles median, these cars are relatively well-maintained for their age, yet they average 5.1 advisories per MOT, indicating wear-and-tear accumulation is steady. The low failure count of 0.67 per vehicle shows major issues are rare, but budget for minor remedial work before test day and always verify a full service history before committing to purchase.

The 2018 Audi A5 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (89.5%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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

89.5%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

24.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.67

Over 5.5 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

38k

Middle half: 30k–49k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 89.5% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.1 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 12,088 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 12,088 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 38.2%

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 27.9%

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.

Other issues 14.5%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · …

Suspension & steering 7.8%

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 12,088 Audi A5 cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Audi A5

Based on MOT data from 12,088 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 24.4% 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
Petrol (74%)	8,923	89.8%	0.65
Diesel (26%)	3,163	88.4%	0.73

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 2018 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.

38,372

typical

29,583

low mileage

48,706

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Audi A5 vehicles fall between 29,583 and 48,706 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 29,583 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.

✓ 29,583–48,706 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Audi A5s sit.

⚠ Over 65,753 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Audi A5 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Audi A5s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 10,839 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 96% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.67

Avg failures per vehicle

5.1

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 2018 Audi A5 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?