Audi S5 (2008)

421 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.8% first-time pass rate

2008 Audi S5

CarHunch analysed 421 real MOT records for the 2008 Audi S5. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 3.8% above UK average
83.8%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
71,103
typical mileage
55,738–86,427 middle half
39.7%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.59
avg MOT failures per car
over 14.6 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2008 Audi S5

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.
  • ⚠️ 39.7% 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 S5

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
Petrol (99%) 418 83.8% 2.61
Diesel (0%) 2 79.2% 1.5
Other (0%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Audi S5 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.

55,738
low mileage
71,103
typical
86,427
high mileage

Half of all 2008 Audi S5 vehicles fall between 55,738 and 86,427 miles.

2008 Audi S5 — Still on the Road

233 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 65% of the peak remain.

358 233 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

14.6
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.59
Avg failures per vehicle
15.6
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2008 Audi S5

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 51.5%
    Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
  • 44.8%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 42.1%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 38.5%
    Oil leak, but not excessive
  • 35.4%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 35.1%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 33.9%
    Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay
  • 31.1%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Audi S5?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Audi S5:

2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014