The picture
S4 Black Edition Tdi Quattro A: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 625 MOT tests, the S4 Black Edition Tdi Quattro A returns 92.2% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. A tyre with the cords showing and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 32,309, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
A tyre seriously damaged
10 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 02
A tyre cords visible or damaged
9 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 03
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
7 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 04
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
5 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 05
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
3 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 06
Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
3 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 07
Flexible brake hose slightly damaged, chafed or twisted
2 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 08
Windscreen or window excessively tinted but not adversely affecting driver's view
2 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 09
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
2 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 10
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
2 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£135–£225
If every one of this S4 Black Edition Tdi Quattro A's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
MOT-spec replacement number plate
Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.
Search Amazon UK
Buying or keeping a S4 Black Edition Tdi Quattro A?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a S4 Black Edition Tdi Quattro A and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.