Part of the Audi A4 B9 (2015–2024) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2016 Audi A4: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Audi A4 first registered in 2016: we looked at the 21,710 MOTs these cars had during 2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

21,710MOTs of 2016 cars, done in 2025
79%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
9,600typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2016 Audi A4?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2016 Audi A4 than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.1× usual
    Audi A4
    12.8% All 2016 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 1.1% of all 2016 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.

  • Coil springs2.1× usual
    Audi A4
    8.5% All 2016 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.2%, against 2.5% of all 2016 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.

  • Coil springs27× usual
    Audi A4
    2.7% All 2016 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0% of all 2016 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.

Common 2016 Audi A4 MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2016 Audi A4 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • 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.

  • Suspension
    24% 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
    16% 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
    5% 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
    4% 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
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

Known faults on the 2016 Audi A4

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2016 Audi A4

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2016 Audi A4 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2016 Audi A4 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 27× as often on the 2016 Audi A4 as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at an Audi A4?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Audi A4 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023336Tyres 21%
20226,693Tyres 29%
20217,083Tyres 28%
20208,313Tyres 29%
201913,101Tyres 30%
201813,511Tyres 28%
201721,043Tyres 28%
201516,066Tyres 31%
201416,514Tyres 32%
201315,554Suspension 34%
201212,890Suspension 37%
201113,180Suspension 45%
201012,096Suspension 45%
200911,513Suspension 47%
200813,154Suspension 52%
200712,460Suspension 52%
200610,474Suspension 53%
20055,707Suspension 50%
20045,035Suspension 52%
20032,822Suspension 53%
20021,481Suspension 55%
2001691Suspension 49%
2000753Suspension 46%
1999631Suspension 48%
1998386Suspension 49%
1997218Suspension 48%
1996156Suspension 47%
1995–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, counting the MOTs of Audi A4 cars first registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score