Used car guide

2008 Audi A6: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Audi A6s, from 4,690 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,690MOT tests in 2025
66%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
9,200typical 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 A6s than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2× usual
    Audi A6
    22.6% All 2008 cars
    11.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, 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.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes10× usual
    Audi A6
    10% All 2008 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 0.2% of all 2008 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.

  • Number plate lights1.6× usual
    Audi A6
    14.5% All 2008 cars
    8.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 2.3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars. Coil springs: 5.5% here, against 12.2% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Audi A6 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    49% 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
    36% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    34% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    29% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    11% 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.

Looking at a Audi A6?

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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%
20074,436Suspension 46%
20062,407Suspension 48%
20051,375Suspension 47%
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 2008 Audi A6s registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score