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Audi 100 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Audi 100 car check

Is the Audi 100 reliable? We analysed 55,546 real MOT tests across 10,592 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 55,546 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
65.2%
Typical Mileage
138,405mi
Annual Mileage
4,032mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
41yrs

The Audi 100 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and constant velocity joint gaiter split. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Audi 100.

Audi 100 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Audi 100. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Audi 100 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Audi 100 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

83.4%
2008
63.2%
1998
63.9%
1997
69.4%
1996
73.4%
1995
65.2%
1994
64.4%
1993
63%
1992
65.9%
1991
66.7%
1990
63.9%
1989
67.4%
1988
65.5%
1987
65.1%
1986
67.9%
1985
66.9%
1984
65.5%
1983
69.8%
1982
68.6%
1981
81%
1975

Audi 100 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Audi 100 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 3,703
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,994
constant velocity joint gaiter split 2,589
Brake hose excessively deteriorated 2,350
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 2,112
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 1,988
parking brake recording little or no effort 1,953
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 1,613
Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded 1,469
Registration plate lamp not working 1,229

Audi 100 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Audi 100 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,722 mi/yr
Typical
4,032 mi/yr
Average
5,224 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,117 mi/yr

Audi 100 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Audi 100 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 296 83.4% 64,592 98,424 143,919
1998 68 63.2% 94,546 127,127 171,300
1997 97 63.9% 123,601 161,858 195,496
1996 62 69.4% 84,821 97,901 156,729
1995 139 73.4% 103,206 137,052 165,112
1994 11,944 65.2% 112,634 140,986 171,268
1993 11,684 64.4% 118,703 146,532 177,251
1992 10,237 63.0% 112,850 141,236 171,615
1991 5,061 65.9% 102,540 132,751 162,362
1990 3,805 66.7% 102,334 132,900 164,264
1989 3,977 63.9% 105,999 137,587 170,798
1988 2,703 67.4% 102,991 134,477 164,618
1987 1,709 65.5% 102,587 137,553 169,248
1986 1,139 65.1% 103,102 134,729 173,305
1985 745 67.9% 103,111 125,305 157,489
1984 483 66.9% 83,524 122,902 171,842
1983 339 65.5% 59,344 95,930 130,064
1982 63 69.8% 71,333 90,325 114,532
1981 70 68.6% 70,128 87,236 136,821
1975 79 81.0% 48,039 66,330 74,332

How Long Does a Audi 100 Last?

Based on 10,592 Audi 100 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
17.0 years
Median
16.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
41 years

Audi 100 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Audi 100 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
138,405 mi
75th Percentile
170,239 mi
95th Percentile
228,119 mi
Max Recorded
966,341 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Audi 100

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2008

83.4% MOT pass rate from 296 tests

Year to avoid
1992

63.0% MOT pass rate from 10,237 tests

The best year to buy a used Audi 100 is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.4% across 296 tests. The 1992 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Audi 100 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Audi 100 THIS CAR 65.2% 55,546 138,405 mi 41 yrs
Audi A3 78% 7,415,025 78,776 mi 29 yrs
Audi A4 76.1% 7,096,957 96,834 mi 31 yrs
Audi A6 78.4% 2,724,792 98,890 mi 31 yrs
Toyota Granvia 72.5% 37,326 134,992 mi 31 yrs

Compared to the Audi A3 (78.0% pass rate) and the Audi A4 (76.1% pass rate), the Audi 100 trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a Audi 100 you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used Audi 100?

The Audi 100 has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.2% across 55,546 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Audi 100 are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3,703 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2,994), and constant velocity joint gaiter split (2,589). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Audi 100 owner drives around 4,032 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Audi 100 models stay on UK roads for around 41 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Audi 100 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Audi 100 reliable?
Based on 55,546 MOT tests, the Audi 100 has a 65.2% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Audi 100?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and constant velocity joint gaiter split. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Audi 100 do per year?
The typical Audi 100 does around 4,032 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Audi 100 last?
Most Audi 100 models stay on UK roads for around 41 years based on our analysis of 10,592 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Audi 100?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Audi 100?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Audi 100 is 2008 with a 83.4% pass rate across 296 tests.