2014 Audi A5 2.0L Petrol · AK14 AAU

The most recent DVSA examination on 11 December 2025 returned a clean pass with no advisories or defects recorded, which on the surface suggests the vehicle is currently in a roadworthy condition. However, reviewing the broader history reveals that this pass follows a failure on 28 November 2025, just thirteen days earlier, where a major defect was identified on the offside front outer drive shaft constant velocity joint boot, which was split or insecure and no longer preventing the ingress of dirt. A further failure occurred on 15 November 2024 with a dangerous nearside rear tyre below the legal tread limit and a major windscreen wiper defect. While the intervening passes in late 2024 and late 2023 were generally clean apart from tyre advisories, the pattern of tyre wear advisories recurring across multiple axles and positions, combined with two failures in the space of roughly thirteen months, indicates that maintenance attention has been inconsistent and that a prospective buyer should not rely solely on the latest clean pass as evidence of consistent mechanical upkeep. With approximately 100,188 miles accumulated over twelve years, this Audi A5 is averaging around 8,349 miles annually, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of its age and not in itself a cause for concern. There are no glaring gaps in the MOT history that would suggest prolonged standing periods, which is positive as it reduces the likelihood of corrosion seizing the brakes, flat spots forming in the tyres, or the 12V battery suffering from repeated deep discharge cycles. That said, a twelve year old executive coupe carrying six figure mileage will inevitably have wear in higher mileage items such as suspension bushes, coil springs, anti roll bar links, shock absorbers, and the dual mass flywheel if equipped with a manual gearbox, or the torque converter and mechatronics unit if automatic. The recorded annual mileage also means that timing chains, turbochargators, and the DSG or multitronic transmission service items may be approaching or overdue their manufacturer schedules, particularly if the vehicle has been driven predominantly in stop start urban conditions. Given the split CV boot failure on the offside front drive shaft, any test drive should be conducted in a quiet environment with the windows down and the vehicle unladen so that any clicking, knocking, or vibration emanating from the front axle on full lock can be clearly heard. The boot itself should be physically inspected for fresh grease around the joint and for any signs of a recent replacement, as a contaminated CV joint that has continued to be driven can wear the internal tripod or Rzeppa races prematurely, leading to a far more costly repair than simply renewing the boot. Equally, attention should be paid to the nearside drive shaft boot for symmetry, since CV boots often fail on both sides within a short period. If a replacement has only recently been carried out, request the invoice and verify the mileage at which it was completed. The recurring tyre advisories on both front inner edges in 2023 and on the offside rear and front in late 2024 and 2025 suggest a tracking or geometry issue that may not have been rectified, since uneven shoulder wear on inner or outer edges typically points to incorrect camber or toe settings rather than simple age related wear. On inspection, all four tyres should be examined for even tread across the full width and for any signs of feathering or stepped wear, and the spare or inflation kit should be checked for age related perishing on the sidewall. Given the calendar age of the vehicle, the prospective buyer should also verify the age of the 12 volt battery, which on a 2014 Audi is almost certainly due for replacement and should be load tested rather than simply voltage checked. Brake discs should be examined for lipping and surface corrosion, particularly given the vehicle appears to be in regular use, and the brake fluid, coolant, and if applicable the DSG or automatic transmission fluid should be confirmed as recently serviced in line with the manufacturer intervals. Finally, the EPC light advisory noted on the 2024 test warrants confirmation that any underlying electronic throttle or sensor fault has been fully diagnosed and resolved, as intermittent EPC illumination on the A5 can relate to throttle body adaptation, pedal sensor failure, or wiring faults that reappear if not properly repaired.