Used car guide

2002 Audi A2: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2002 Audi A2s, from 1,319 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,319MOT tests in 2025
55%pass first time (all 2002 cars: 60%)
5,600typical miles a year
3.1×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2002 Audi A2s than on all cars registered in 2002.

  • Ball joint dust cover3.1× usual
    Audi A2
    13.3% All 2002 cars
    4.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.4%, against 1.5% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

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

  • Shock absorbers1.8× usual
    Audi A2
    11.8% All 2002 cars
    6.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 1.5% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Wheels2.5× usual
    Audi A2
    3.2% All 2002 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.3% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

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

  • Engine warning light2× usual
    Audi A2
    3.6% All 2002 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 1.8% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.8% here, against 8.3% of all 2002 cars. Brake pads: 2.9% here, against 6.2% of all 2002 cars.

By area

The share of 2002 Audi A2 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    49% 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
    38% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    37% 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.

  • Tyres
    29% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    21% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    16% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Looking at a Audi A2?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2005863Suspension 44%
20041,391Suspension 44%
20031,092Suspension 45%
20011,016Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2002 Audi A2s registered in 2002. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score