Audi A8 (2014)
2014 Audi A8
CarHunch analysed 1,057 real MOT records for the 2014 Audi A8. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2014 Audi A8 is substantially more reliable than the UK average, with a 93% first-time pass rate against the typical 80%—but one in five examples have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a real concern for safety-critical systems on a car of this complexity. Diesel and petrol variants perform nearly identically, both hitting 93% pass rates, so fuel choice won't be your deciding factor here.
At 70,000 miles median mileage for a ten-year-old car, these A8s have been driven sensibly and show low failure rates (0.72 per vehicle), though advisories average 6.0—suggesting wear items and electrical niggles are common even on the reliable ones. Before buying, insist on a full service history and a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the suspension, electrics, and transmission, as these will determine whether you're buying a bargain or a money pit.
What to check before buying a 2014 Audi A8
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 20.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Audi A8
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (90%) | 952 | 93% | 0.72 |
| Petrol (10%) | 101 | 93.8% | 0.66 |
| Hybrid Electric (Clean) (0%) | 4 | 96.4% | 0.25 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2014 Audi A8 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2014 Audi A8 vehicles fall between 54,087 and 90,785 miles.
2014 Audi A8 — Still on the Road
Strong survival — 808 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 81% of the peak.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2014 Audi A8
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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33.5%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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32.7%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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30.6%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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28.2%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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16.5%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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11.4%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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11.4%
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view
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9.8%
Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2014. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Audi A8?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.