2016 Audi A5 2.0L Diesel · DY65 AAO

A pattern of recurring suspension advisories, combined with a recorded engine management malfunction, defines the mechanical profile of this 2016 Audi A5. The most recent test on 17 December 2025 returned a clean pass with no advisories, which is a positive outcome, yet the broader history shows that underlying wear items have been flagged repeatedly over several test cycles. Shock absorber oil misting has been recorded on the nearside front unit in 2022 and 2023, and on the nearside rear unit in early 2025, suggesting gradual deterioration of the damper sealing rather than a single isolated event. More significantly, a Major failure was logged at the same February 2025 test for an inoperative or malfunctioning Engine MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp), which prevented a pass on that occasion before the vehicle was subsequently presented and passed later the same day. The trend across the recorded tests is one of generally passable roadworthiness but with persistent advisories concentrated around the suspension, tyres, and emissions-related electronics, indicating components approaching the threshold of concern rather than a record of outright mechanical decline. The recorded mileage of 67,995 miles across ten years of registration equates to an average accumulation of roughly 6,800 miles per year, which sits broadly in line with typical private use for a vehicle of this age. The recorded mileages between tests show steady, incremental increases without any anomalous jumps or significant gaps, and there are no extended periods without a recorded MOT, indicating the car has been in continuous use rather than laid up. This usage pattern is consistent with normal mixed driving and means that consumable wear items such as brake pads, discs, tyres, and suspension components will have been worked through at a moderate, expected rate. There is no mileage evidence suggesting either the high-mileage wear pattern associated with predominantly motorway use or the long stationary periods that can degrade ancillary components such as brakes through corrosion and seals through drying out. For a prospective buyer, the engine management warning recorded in February 2025 warrants specific attention. A Major defect for an inoperative or malfunctioning MIL means the self-diagnostic system was either not illuminating when expected or the lamp was permanently extinguished, and on a modern Audi this is commonly linked to the bulb itself, the instrument cluster, or underlying emissions or sensor faults that have been cleared without a confirmed repair. It would be prudent to confirm that any diagnostic trouble codes have been properly addressed, ideally by obtaining evidence of a recent scan showing no stored fault codes, and to verify that the lamp functions correctly with the ignition on before engine start. On a test drive, listen for any irregular idle, hesitation under acceleration, or illumination of other warning lamps, as intermittent sensor failures on Audi petrol and diesel engines can recur without leaving a permanent code. The recurring shock absorber advisories deserve a physical inspection, as oil misting that appears on multiple dampers across consecutive years typically progresses to a visible leak and a reduction in damping efficiency. On the road, the car should be driven over uneven surfaces and speed bumps to detect any clonking, excessive bouncing after compression, or a front-to-rear instability that suggests the dampers are no longer controlling body movement effectively. The rear tyre advisories from February 2025 noted both tyres worn close to the legal limit with cracking on the edges, which suggests the rear axle geometry or tyre pressures may not be optimally set, and a fresh set of tyres should be expected. Finally, the front windscreen damage noted as a Minor in 2022 and 2023 should be re-inspected to confirm it remains within the prescribed area and has not propagated, and a thorough check underneath the vehicle for any corrosion to subframe, brake lines, and suspension arms is advisable given the age and the recurring damper wear.