Does the Audi A1 fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Audi A1 records 1.74 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 1.79 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (−0.05, 95% interval −0.08 to −0.03). It ranks 278 of 678 models on noise, emissions and leaks (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on noise, emissions and leaks · check a Audi A1 by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Audi A1 is “Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction”, recorded 6,400 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 6,400 | 0.58 |
| Emissions levels exceed default limits | 4,432 | 0.40 |
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 3,478 | 0.31 |
| Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 2,248 | 0.20 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 1,141 | 0.10 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,104,432 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Audi A1 gets a noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
3.6% of Audi A1 MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 6,676 miles later (7,222 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 7,222 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Audi A1 2010 · Audi A1 2011 · Audi A1 2012 · Audi A1 2013 · Audi A1 2014 · Audi A1 2015 · Audi A1 2016 · Audi A1 2017 · Audi A1 2018 · Audi A1 2019 · Audi A1 2020 · Audi A1 in Norway · Audi A1 in Finland · Audi A1 in the Netherlands · Audi A1 by postcode area · Audi A1 body, chassis and structure failures · Audi A1 brakes failures · Audi A1 vehicle identification failures · Audi A1 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Audi A1 road wheels failures · Audi A1 seat belts and airbags failures · Audi A1 steering failures · Audi A1 suspension failures · Audi A1 tyres failures · Audi A1 visibility failures