Audi RS Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Audi RS car check
Is the Audi RS reliable? We analysed 2,537 real MOT tests across 252 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Audi RS? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Audi RS is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre has ply or cords exposed, registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Audi RS.
Audi RS Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Audi RS. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Audi RS MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Audi RS to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Audi RS Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Audi RS fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Audi RS Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Audi RS models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Audi RS Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Audi RS owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Audi RS MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Audi RS year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 68 | 85.3% | 36,488 | 46,420 | 56,426 |
| 2014 | 2,075 | 86.5% | 31,876 | 45,943 | 64,070 |
| 2013 | 325 | 87.1% | 30,738 | 44,523 | 64,525 |
How Long Does a Audi RS Last?
Based on 252 Audi RS vehicles on UK roads.
Audi RS Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Audi RS MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Audi RS
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
87.1% MOT pass rate from 325 tests
85.3% MOT pass rate from 68 tests
The best year to buy a used Audi RS is 2013, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.1% across 325 tests. The 2015 model year has the lowest pass rate at 85.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Audi RS Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi RS THIS CAR | 86.4% | 2,537 | 46,255 mi | 13 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 |
| Mercedes-benz C220 AMG Sport + CDI Blue-cy A | 78.6% | 1,787 | 90,663 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Audi A3 (78.0% pass rate) and the Audi A4 (76.1% pass rate), the Audi RS outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Audi RS 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.
Check a specific Audi RSShould you buy a used Audi RS?
The Audi RS has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.4% across 2,537 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Audi RS are tyre has ply or cords exposed (17 recorded failures), registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (11), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (9). 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.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Audi RS with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Audi RS owner drives around 5,316 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 RS models stay on UK roads for around 13 years. 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.