Used car guide

2005 Audi A4: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Audi A4s, from 5,707 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,707MOT tests in 2025
62%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
6,800typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Audi A4s than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2× usual
    Audi A4
    20.9% All 2005 cars
    10.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 2.3% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

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

  • Number plate lights1.9× usual
    Audi A4
    15.4% All 2005 cars
    8.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 2.2% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

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

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes4.5× usual
    Audi A4
    7.7% All 2005 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 0.4% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Ball joint dust cover2× usual
    Audi A4
    9.8% All 2005 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 1.8% of all 2005 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.

  • Flexible brake hoses1.7× usual
    Audi A4
    9.9% All 2005 cars
    5.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 1.2% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.6% here, against 14.9% of all 2005 cars. Rust around suspension or steering mountings: 1.8% here, against 6% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 Audi A4 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    50% 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
    37% 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
    34% 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
    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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    19% 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
    11% 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 A4?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20226,693Tyres 29%
20217,083Tyres 28%
20208,313Tyres 29%
201913,101Tyres 30%
201813,511Tyres 28%
201721,043Tyres 28%
201621,710Tyres 29%
201516,066Tyres 31%
201416,514Tyres 32%
201315,554Suspension 34%
201212,890Suspension 37%
201113,180Suspension 45%
201012,096Suspension 45%
200911,513Suspension 47%
200813,154Suspension 52%
200712,460Suspension 52%
200610,474Suspension 53%
20045,035Suspension 52%
20032,822Suspension 53%
20021,481Suspension 55%
2001691Suspension 49%
2000753Suspension 46%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 Audi A4s registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score