Audi A8 2003: MOT failure rate for its age
29.9% of 645 MOT tests of the Audi A8 first registered in 2003 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 116.3 (95% CI 99.9–132.8; 100 = normal for this model at that age): the 2003 build year is no different from other years of the same model at the same age. This is a rough estimate from a smaller sample.
| Measure | Value | Unit | Compared with | Years | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed first time | 29.9 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 645 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 99.9–132.8) | 116.3 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 645 |
| Rank among this model's 19 build years | 18 | of 19 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 645 |
| Tested in 2024 | 119 | tests | median 132,195 miles | 2024 | 119 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2003 Audi A8 fail at each age?
Cars built in 2003 were tested at ages 16 to 21 between 2019 and 2024. Each row compares their first-time failure share with what this model normally shows at that age, after allowing for the overall failure level of each test year.
| Age | Tests | Failed, % | 95% interval | Normal for this model at that age, % | Index (100 = normal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 270 (rough estimate) | 32.2 | 26.9–38 | 26.3 | 122.7 |
| 17 | 198 (rough estimate) | 25.3 | 19.7–31.7 | 26.3 | 95.9 |
| 18 | 177 (rough estimate) | 31.6 | 25.2–38.8 | 24.2 | 130.6 |
| 19 | 174 (rough estimate) | 34.5 | 27.8–41.8 | not available | not available |
| 20 | 140 (rough estimate) | 33.6 | 26.3–41.7 | not available | not available |
| 21 | 119 (rough estimate) | 30.3 | 22.7–39 | not available | not available |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,078 (initial tests) · Method: normal rate = this model's first-time failure share at that age across its build years (cells of 400+ tests), adjusted for each test year's overall level; cells of 30+ tests, under 500 marked rough · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
What fails most on the 2003 Audi A8?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2003 is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: 27.9 items per 100 first tests, against 8.5 across all build years of the Audi A8. These counts are not age-adjusted: cars built in 2003 were tested at ages 16 to 21.
| Failure group | Built 2003, per 100 | All build years, per 100 | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 27.9 | 8.5 | 301 |
| Brakes | 15.1 | 5.2 | 163 |
| Suspension | 14.5 | 5.3 | 156 |
| Visibility | 10.6 | 6 | 114 |
| Body, chassis, structure | 9 | 2.7 | 97 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,078 (initial tests of this build year) · Method: failure items grouped by DVSA's top-level defect groups, per 100 initial tests; groups with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How does 2003 compare with the years around it?
Among the 19 published build years of the Audi A8, 2003 ranks 18 (1 = fails least for its age). 2002: index 142.5. 2004: index 112.2.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 142.5 | 118.5–166.4 | worse (rough estimate) | 358 |
| 2003 | 116.3 | 99.9–132.8 | no different (rough estimate) | 645 |
| 2004 | 112.2 | 101.9–122.6 | worse (rough estimate) | 1,590 |
| 2005 | 110.7 | 102.9–118.6 | worse (rough estimate) | 2,815 |
| 2006 | 102.9 | 95.7–110.0 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,272 |
| 2007 | 107.0 | 100.6–113.3 | worse | 4,538 |
| 2008 | 102.8 | 96.7–108.9 | no different | 5,138 |
| 2009 | 104.5 | 95.7–113.3 | no different (rough estimate) | 2,795 |
| 2010 | 95.2 | 87.0–103.3 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,366 |
| 2011 | 88.0 | 81.2–94.8 | better | 5,110 |
| 2012 | 90.6 | 83.1–98.1 | better | 4,852 |
| 2013 | 94.0 | 85.8–102.2 | no different | 4,797 |
| 2014 | 86.6 | 78.9–94.4 | better | 5,595 |
| 2015 | 106.4 | 97.9–114.9 | no different | 6,190 |
| 2016 | 96.3 | 87.6–105.0 | no different | 5,655 |
| 2017 | 100.2 | 88.8–111.6 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,631 |
| 2018 | 96.7 | 85.8–107.6 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,991 |
| 2019 | 85.0 | 71.4–98.6 | better (rough estimate) | 2,275 |
| 2020 | 109.4 | 83.0–135.7 | no different (rough estimate) | 805 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 67,418 (initial tests) · Method: observed failures against those expected for the same model at the same ages, test-year level adjusted; verdict follows the printed one-decimal bound · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Audi A8 2003 MOT statistics (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 30 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/audi-a8/2003/
How every figure is calculated: methodology. Age, test year and build year are tied together (age = test year − build year), so the test-year level is taken as observed, not estimated.
Other pages for this model
Audi A8 2002 · Audi A8 2004 · Audi A8 2005 · Audi A8 2006 · Audi A8 2007 · Audi A8 2008 · Audi A8 2009 · Audi A8 2010 · Audi A8 2011 · Audi A8 2012 · Audi A8 2013 · Audi A8 2014 · Audi A8 2015 · Audi A8 2016 · Audi A8 2017 · Audi A8 2018 · Audi A8 2019 · Audi A8 2020 · Audi A8 in Norway · Audi A8 in Finland · Audi A8 in the Netherlands · Audi A8 by postcode area · Audi A8 body, chassis and structure failures · Audi A8 brakes failures · Audi A8 vehicle identification failures · Audi A8 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Audi A8 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Audi A8 road wheels failures · Audi A8 seat belts and airbags failures · Audi A8 steering failures · Audi A8 suspension failures · Audi A8 tyres failures · Audi A8 visibility failures