Used car guide

2012 Audi A1: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Audi A1s, from 18,213 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

18,213MOT tests in 2025
67%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
7,000typical miles a year
1.7×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Audi A1s than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints1.7× usual
    Audi A1
    7.5% All 2012 cars
    4.4%
    Rough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Link ball joint covers2× usual
    Audi A1
    4.9% All 2012 cars
    2.5%
    Rough price £80–£200

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.3% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars. Ball joint: 1.6% here, against 5.6% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Audi A1 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    36% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    36% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    28% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    16% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    8% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

Looking at a Audi A1?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20228,839Tyres 27%
20218,177Tyres 30%
20209,714Tyres 30%
201919,948Tyres 30%
201819,881Tyres 33%
201722,864Tyres 33%
201625,401Tyres 33%
201523,463Tyres 34%
201422,862Tyres 34%
201322,168Tyres 35%
201115,707Suspension 43%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Audi A1s registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score