Used car guide

2005 Audi A6: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Audi A6s, from 1,375 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,375MOT tests in 2025
64%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
8,100typical miles a year
6.1×the usual rate for anti-roll bar link bushes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Audi A6s than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes6.1× usual
    Audi A6
    10.3% All 2005 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, 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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.8× usual
    Audi A6
    19.6% All 2005 cars
    10.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, 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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 4.1% here, against 14.9% of all 2005 cars. Exhaust system: 3.6% here, against 9.4% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 Audi A6 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    39% 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
    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.

  • Brakes
    33% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    18% 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
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

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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%
2004807Suspension 48%
2003574Suspension 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 Audi A6s registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score