Does the Audi A5 fail the MOT on steering more than it should?
The Audi A5 records 0.27 steering failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 2.08 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−1.81, 95% interval −1.84 to −1.78). It ranks 457 of 640 models on steering (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on steering · check a Audi A5 by registration
What exactly fails on steering?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Audi A5 is “A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play”, recorded 452 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 452 | 0.07 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 414 | 0.06 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated | 318 | 0.05 |
| Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning | 133 | 0.02 |
| Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is excessive | 97 | 0.01 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 685,960 (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 A5 gets a steering advisory, how often does it fail next time?
4.9% of Audi A5 MOTs with a steering advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 6,609 miles later (1,494 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,494 (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 A5 2007 · Audi A5 2008 · Audi A5 2009 · Audi A5 2010 · Audi A5 2011 · Audi A5 2012 · Audi A5 2013 · Audi A5 2014 · Audi A5 2015 · Audi A5 2016 · Audi A5 2017 · Audi A5 2018 · Audi A5 2019 · Audi A5 2020 · Audi A5 in Norway · Audi A5 in Finland · Audi A5 in the Netherlands · Audi A5 by postcode area · Audi A5 body, chassis and structure failures · Audi A5 brakes failures · Audi A5 vehicle identification failures · Audi A5 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Audi A5 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Audi A5 road wheels failures · Audi A5 seat belts and airbags failures · Audi A5 suspension failures · Audi A5 tyres failures · Audi A5 visibility failures