Used car guide

2012 Audi A5: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Audi A5s, from 8,915 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

8,915MOT tests in 2025
73%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
8,400typical miles a year
1.8×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Audi A5s than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.8× usual
    Audi A5
    18.1% All 2012 cars
    10.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 2% of all 2012 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.

  • Shock absorbers1.8× usual
    Audi A5
    11.7% All 2012 cars
    6.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 1.7% of all 2012 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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints1.7× usual
    Audi A5
    7.6% All 2012 cars
    4.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, against 2.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    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.

Better than most

Coil springs: 2.1% here, against 9.6% of all 2012 cars. Track rod ends: 0.3% here, against 4.9% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Audi A5 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    35% 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.

  • Suspension
    33% 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.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    14% 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
    8% 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 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%
20119,195Suspension 40%
20109,427Suspension 41%
20095,342Suspension 41%
20083,486Suspension 47%
20071,156Suspension 45%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Audi A5s registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score