Used car guide

2018 Audi A1: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Audi A1s, from 19,881 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

19,881MOT tests in 2025
80%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
6,400typical miles a year
4×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Audi A1s than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints4× usual
    Audi A1
    12.7% All 2018 cars
    3.2%
    Rough price £100–£300

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Coil springs1.7× usual
    Audi A1
    2.9% All 2018 cars
    1.7%
    Rough price £120–£300

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Number plates1.5× usual
    Audi A1
    2.6% All 2018 cars
    1.7%
    Rough price £5–£40

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

By area

The share of 2018 Audi A1 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    33% 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
    20% 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.

  • Suspension
    18% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    6% 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
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    1% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

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%
201722,864Tyres 33%
201625,401Tyres 33%
201523,463Tyres 34%
201422,862Tyres 34%
201322,168Tyres 35%
201218,213Suspension 36%
201115,707Suspension 43%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2018 Audi A1s registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score