2014 Audi A4 2.0L Diesel · CU14 VCK

A pattern of advisory items across the rear axle is the defining mechanical story for this 2014 Audi A4. Across the eight MOT tests on file, the vehicle has passed every examination without any failure items, but the 2023 and 2024 tests each flagged rear shock absorber oil misting, with the 2024 advisory extending to both rear units rather than just the nearside. The 2023 test also recorded front tyres worn on both edges, rear brake pads wearing thin, and rear brake discs pitted or scored. The most recent test on 7 November 2025 returned a clean pass with no defects recorded, indicating that the items noted in earlier years were either rectified or had not yet reached a failure threshold at that point. The absence of any recorded failures is a positive roadworthiness marker, though the recurring rear-suspension advisory suggests that this area warrants close attention going into the next inspection cycle. Recorded mileage of 130,348 miles across roughly twelve years equates to an accumulation rate of around 10,860 miles per year, which is broadly consistent with regular mixed-use driving rather than long-term storage or exceptionally high mileage. The test history is also unusually comprehensive, with annual tests consistently recorded from 2019 through 2025 and no multi-year gaps that would suggest the vehicle was off the road. This continuous testing record, combined with the steady annual mileage, points to a car that has been in active service throughout its recorded life, meaning consumables such as brake friction material, tyres, and suspension dampers will have accrued wear in line with that usage. There are no sudden mileage jumps between tests, so there is no immediate suspicion of a replaced or inconsistent odometer reading. For a prospective buyer, the rear suspension components flagged in 2023 and 2024 should be the focus of any physical inspection and test drive. Listen for knocking or clonking from the rear axle over uneven road surfaces, and pay particular attention to any wallowing or extended body movement during direction changes, as oil-misted rear shocks can progress to reduced hydraulic damping over time. Inspect the rear shock bodies and lower mounting areas for fresh oil staining or dampness, and check that the rear tyres are wearing evenly across their width, since weakened dampers often produce uneven or cupped tread patterns. On a road test, the car should remain composed over expansion joints and speed humps without a secondary bounce after the initial compression. The braking system advisories from 2023 also warrant verification. Check the remaining rear pad material through the wheel spokes if possible, and feel for any vibration or judder through the brake pedal, which can indicate the rear discs have worn beyond the advisory pitting noted and may now require machining or replacement. Examine the rear brake discs for a clearly visible lip on the outer edge, a common indicator of disc wear on high-mileage vehicles. The front tyres were noted as worn close to the legal limit on both edges in 2023, so confirm current tread depth and check for uneven shoulder wear that could point to suspension geometry or alignment issues. Finally, given the mileage, a thorough inspection of the usual high-wear items such as front suspension bushes, control arms, and anti-roll bar drop links is sensible, as these are common renewal points on an A4 of this age and distance.