Used car guide

1999 Audi A8: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Audi A8 first registered in 1999: we looked at the 165 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 165 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

165MOTs of 1999 cars, done in 2023–2025
67%pass first time (all 1999 cars: 63%)
5,800typical miles a year
3.2×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1999 Audi A8?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1999 Audi A8 than on all cars registered in 1999.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints3.2× usual
    Audi A8
    18.8% All 1999 cars
    5.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 1.2% of all 1999 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.

Common 1999 Audi A8 MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1999 Audi A8 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    40% 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
    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.

  • Lights and electrics
    27% 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
    21% 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
    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
    16% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1999 Audi A8

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 3.2× as often on the 1999 Audi A8 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at an Audi A8?

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 A8 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023279Tyres 8%
2022272Tyres 15%
2021590Tyres 16%
20201,198Tyres 18%
20192,195Tyres 18%
20182,898Tyres 19%
20171,990Tyres 20%
20162,680Tyres 20%
20152,877Tyres 20%
20142,566Tyres 20%
20132,168Tyres 23%
20122,170Tyres 23%
20112,135Tyres 24%
20101,391Suspension 27%
20091,149Tyres 25%
20082,004Tyres 26%
20071,669Tyres 30%
20061,148Tyres 27%
20051,005Tyres 30%
2004618Suspension 32%
2003337Tyres 30%
2002303Suspension 32%
2001274Suspension 38%
2000196Suspension 44%
1998134Suspension 50%
1997–Too few tests
1996–Too few tests
1995–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Audi A8 cars first registered in 1999. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score