Used car guide

2021 Audi A5: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Audi A5s, from 5,297 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,297MOT tests in 2025
88%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
8,700typical miles a year
35×the usual rate for coil springs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Audi A5s than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Coil springs35× usual
    Audi A5
    3.5% All 2021 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    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.

  • Shock absorbers1.8× usual
    Audi A5
    3% All 2021 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.3% of all 2021 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.

By area

The share of 2021 Audi A5 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    28% 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
    9% 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
    7% 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.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    3% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

Looking at a Audi A5?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20224,426Tyres 27%
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%
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 2021 Audi A5s registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score