Used car guide

2005 Audi TT: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Audi TTs, from 3,275 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,275MOT tests in 2025
61%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
5,000typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

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

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.1× usual
    Audi TT
    22.9% All 2005 cars
    10.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, 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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints1.9× usual
    Audi TT
    14% All 2005 cars
    7.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.6%, against 3.2% of all 2005 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.

  • Airbag warning light3.3× usual
    Audi TT
    5.2% All 2005 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.9%, against 1.5% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Engine warning light1.9× usual
    Audi TT
    5.3% All 2005 cars
    2.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.3%, against 2.8% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes3.8× usual
    Audi TT
    3% All 2005 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.1% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

Better than most

Rust around suspension or steering mountings: 1% here, against 6% of all 2005 cars. Ball joint: 2.3% here, against 6.5% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 Audi TT 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
    38% 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
    33% 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
    29% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    14% of testsRough price £60–£350

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    13% 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 TT?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20222,600Tyres 26%
20212,437Tyres 26%
20203,005Tyres 29%
20194,639Tyres 28%
20184,133Tyres 27%
20177,434Tyres 28%
20169,169Tyres 28%
20158,561Tyres 28%
20143,926Tyres 28%
20136,309Tyres 29%
20125,542Tyres 29%
20116,259Tyres 30%
20106,276Suspension 35%
20095,764Suspension 35%
20086,783Suspension 37%
20077,379Suspension 38%
20062,697Suspension 42%
20044,129Suspension 48%
20034,107Suspension 48%
20023,499Suspension 49%
20012,317Suspension 50%
20001,469Suspension 49%

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