Used car guide

2008 Audi A5: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Audi A5s, from 3,486 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,486MOT tests in 2025
68%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
7,800typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Audi A5s than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2× usual
    Audi A5
    22.6% All 2008 cars
    11.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 2.3% of all 2008 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.

  • Sub-frame1.7× usual
    Audi A5
    13% All 2008 cars
    7.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Engine warning light1.9× usual
    Audi A5
    5% All 2008 cars
    2.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5%, against 2.7% of all 2008 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

Rigid brake pipes: 0.8% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars. Headlights: 4% here, against 10.7% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Audi A5 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    47% 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
    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
    22% 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
    20% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    13% 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
    9% 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 A5?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20224,426Tyres 27%
20215,297Tyres 28%
20204,815Tyres 30%
20199,863Tyres 30%
201811,393Tyres 29%
201713,804Tyres 27%
20168,258Tyres 34%
201510,199Tyres 33%
201410,463Tyres 33%
201310,364Tyres 34%
20128,915Tyres 35%
20119,195Suspension 40%
20109,427Suspension 41%
20095,342Suspension 41%
20071,156Suspension 45%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Audi A5s registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score