Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 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 2021 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 2021 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.

Is the 2021 Audi A5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 244 vehicles, the 2021 Audi A5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2021 Audi A5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2021 Audi A5 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (27.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (26.9% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (17.3% 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 2021 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 (2021)

244 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.9% first-time pass rate

2021 Audi A5

CarHunch analysed 244 real MOT records for the 2021 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 MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2021 Audi A5 is a genuinely reliable car, with a 91.5% first-time pass rate that sits well above the UK average of 80%—and dangerous defects are uncommon at just 11.9% of the cohort. This petrol-powered model shows consistent dependability, with an average of only 0.27 failures per vehicle.

The median mileage of 26,000 miles is typical for a three-year-old car, and the low failure count suggests owners aren't facing unexpected repair bills. The 1.9 advisories per vehicle are mostly minor wear items rather than serious problems, so when buying one secondhand, focus your inspection on the service history and fluid condition rather than worrying about structural issues.

We have limited data for the 2021 Audi A5 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

91.9%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

11.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.27

Over 2.4 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

26k

Middle half: 19k–36k

For context

These stats describe 244 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.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 244 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 27.4%

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 17.3%

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 5%

Offside Rear Lower Coil spring mounting corroded but not seriously weakened

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

Other issues 4.9%

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2021.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 244 Audi A5 cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Audi A5

Based on MOT data from 244 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 11.9% 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
Petrol (80%)	196	91.9%	0.28

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 2021 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.

25,999

typical

19,082

low mileage

36,023

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Audi A5 vehicles fall between 19,082 and 36,023 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 19,082 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.

✓ 19,082–36,023 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Audi A5s sit.

⚠ Over 48,631 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

2.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.27

Avg failures per vehicle

1.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Or browse all models: Audi →

Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Audi A5 stacks up against a rival.

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