Used car guide

2003 Audi A8 petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Audi A8 first registered in 2003 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 303 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 303 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

303MOTs of 2003 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
69%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 57%)
6,400typical miles a year
5.3×the usual rate for anti-roll bar link bushes

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2003 Audi A8 petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2003 Audi A8 petrol than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes5.3× usual
    Audi A8
    10.6% All 2003 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.5% of all 2003 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.

Common 2003 Audi A8 petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2003 Audi A8 petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    30% 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
    30% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    30% 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
    27% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    14% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

  • 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2003 Audi A8 petrol

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

  1. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link bushes? (Flagged at MOT 5.3× as often on the 2003 Audi A8 petrol 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%
2002303Suspension 32%
2001274Suspension 38%
2000196Suspension 44%
1999165Suspension 40%
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 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score