2013 Audi A4 2.0L Diesel · BD63 AAX

Rear suspension and braking wear dominate this Audi A4's test history, with the offside rear shock absorber progressing from a light oil misting advisory in 2022 and 2025 to a serious fluid leak failure in August 2026, accompanied on the same failed test by an insecure nearside rear coil spring. That failure was rectified and the car passed a retest on the same day, 6 August 2026, with no defects recorded, suggesting the leaking damper and spring were replaced. Earlier, in September 2021, the car failed with a dangerous defect of offside rear brake pads worn below 1.5 mm, alongside advisories for worn inner and outer front suspension arm bushes on both sides; it passed three days later. The overall trend is one of recurring age-related wear items being caught and corrected, rather than structural or corrosion concerns, but the pattern of rear damper, spring, brake disc and pad issues points to a car whose running gear is working hard at this mileage. Recorded mileage stands at 128,936 miles over roughly thirteen years, averaging about 9,900 miles per year, which is typical for the age and consistent with regular use rather than extended lay-up. The test record is continuous with annual or near-annual tests and no significant gaps, so there is no evidence of long periods off the road. This steady accumulation is consistent with the wear items flagged: suspension bushes, dampers, coil springs and brake components are precisely the parts that degrade with this kind of mileage on a car of this weight, and the absence of any corrosion-related advisories is notable for a thirteen-year-old vehicle. On a test drive, pay close attention to the rear suspension despite the recent repairs. Listen for knocking or clonking over broken surfaces, which could indicate remaining wear in rear bushes or drop links, and check that the car sits level at the rear, since a coil spring failure on one side can mask fatigue in its pair. Push down firmly on each rear corner and release; the body should settle promptly without excessive bouncing, confirming the replacement damper and its counterpart are performing evenly. Ask for invoices confirming whether both rear shock absorbers and both springs were replaced as a matched pair, as replacing only one side is a common short-cut that leaves the older unit likely to fail next. The front suspension arm bushes flagged as worn in 2021 have not reappeared in subsequent tests, but at this mileage they merit inspection: feel for vagueness or shimmy through the steering under braking and listen for knocks from the front over uneven roads. The rear brake discs were noted as worn, pitted or scored in 2021 and again in 2025, so check for a lip on the disc edge, look for visible scoring, and feel for judder or pulsing through the pedal under firm braking from speed. Given the 2021 dangerous pad failure, verify the condition of pads all round and confirm even braking with no pull to either side. If these checks are satisfactory and the recent suspension work is documented, the record supports a car whose known weaknesses have been addressed, though continued attention to the rear running gear should be expected.