2009 Audi A8 3.0L Diesel · EN09 HLR

The most recent MOT on 2025-11-27 recorded a pass , but a rear child seat was fitted, preventing full inspection of the adult belt on both nearside and offside. This raises concerns about potential hidden issues in the rear seating area, such as structural damage or compromised safety restraints. A prior MOT on 2025-11-24 showed a failure due to the same child seat issue and excessive wear in both front suspension arm ball joints (5.3.4 (a) (i)). This suspension defect is a critical safety risk, as worn ball joints can lead to loss of vehicle control. The 2023 MOT noted tire wear on both nearside front and offside rear tires, close to legal limits, but no other defects. Earlier MOTs in 2024 and 2022 showed no issues, suggesting a relatively clean record until 2025. However, the suspension failure in late 2025 indicates a significant mechanical deterioration. While the 2025-11-27 MOT passed, the repeated child seat interference and suspension defect imply ongoing risks that require immediate attention. The vehicle’s mileage of 140,241 miles (17 years old) equates to roughly 8,249 miles per year, which is typical for its age . This suggests neither excessive wear nor prolonged under-use, but the suspension failure at this mileage highlights that high-mileage components like ball joints may have reached their service life .