Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Audi A6?

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 2004 Audi A6?

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 2004 Audi A6?

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 2004 Audi A6 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

31% 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 2004 Audi A6 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 7,980 vehicles, the 2004 Audi A6 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Audi A6?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Audi A6 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (72.5% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (69.9% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (57.8% 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 2004 Audi A6?

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 A6 (2004)

7,980 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.6% first-time pass rate

2004 Audi A6

CarHunch analysed 7,980 real MOT records for the 2004 Audi A6. 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 Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Audi A6 falls short of the UK average with a 75.6% first-time pass rate versus the national 80%, and nearly a third of these cars have recorded dangerous defects—a genuine concern for any buyer. Petrol versions fare slightly better at 78.4% pass rate compared to diesel at 75.0%, though both lag behind average.

At 110,000 miles on average, these A6s show typical mileage for their age, but the real worry is the severity of failures: owners face an average of 4 actual failures per test alongside 20 minor advisories, pointing to ageing electrics, suspension, and cooling systems that demand attention. Before committing to one, get a full pre-purchase inspection from an Audi specialist and budget for significant remedial work—this is not a low-maintenance classic.

The 2004 Audi A6 has a decent first-time pass rate (75.6%), 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

75.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

30.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.01

Over 15.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

113k

Middle half: 90k–136k

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 20.2 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 7,980 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 7,980 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 72.5%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

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

Other issues 57.4%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · …

Brake wear 44.5%

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.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 7,980 Audi A6 cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 3.4 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

78.4%

Petrol

1,553 vehicles

75%

Diesel

6,412 vehicles

Before you buy a 2004 Audi A6

Based on MOT data from 7,980 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 30.7% 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 (80%)	6,412	75%	4.15
Petrol (19%)	1,553	78.4%	3.43

Colour Breakdown

Based on 240,591 Audi A6 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 26%

62,598

Grey 24%

57,670

Blue 16.7%

40,196

Silver 16.6%

39,979

White 7.7%

18,587

Green 5.2%

12,435

Red 3%

7,200

Beige 0.4%

885

Gold 0.2%

538

Brown 0.1%

278

Purple 0.1%

167

Maroon 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Audi A6 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.

112,798

typical

90,342

low mileage

136,388

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Audi A6 vehicles fall between 90,342 and 136,388 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 90,342 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.

✓ 90,342–136,388 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Audi A6s sit.

⚠ Over 184,123 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Audi A6 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 12% of 2004 Audi A6s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 753 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (12% of peak).

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

15.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.01

Avg failures per vehicle

20.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Audi A6: All A6 years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Audi A6 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing