Used car guide

2004 Audi A6: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Audi A6s, from 807 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

807MOT tests in 2025
63%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
7,200typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 Audi A6s than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2× usual
    Audi A6
    19.1% All 2004 cars
    9.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, against 2% of all 2004 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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.1× usual
    Audi A6
    14.5% All 2004 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.2%, against 2.9% of all 2004 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.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes3.6× usual
    Audi A6
    6.8% All 2004 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.5% of all 2004 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.

Better than most

Exhaust system: 4.7% here, against 9.7% of all 2004 cars.

By area

The share of 2004 Audi A6 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    48% 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
    39% 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
    36% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    31% 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
    20% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    15% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023613Tyres 12%
20224,100Tyres 25%
20214,607Tyres 23%
20203,476Tyres 23%
20198,744Tyres 25%
20188,079Tyres 27%
20179,212Tyres 26%
201612,939Tyres 26%
201511,038Tyres 27%
201410,360Tyres 29%
201310,013Tyres 30%
20127,674Tyres 31%
20116,524Suspension 36%
20106,176Suspension 40%
20093,830Suspension 41%
20084,690Suspension 49%
20074,436Suspension 46%
20062,407Suspension 48%
20051,375Suspension 47%
2003574Suspension 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 Audi A6s registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score