What goes wrong, what it costs, and what to check before you buy a used Audi Cabriolet.
The Audi Cabriolet occupies a niche position on the UK market.
We track 5 known issues across the Audi Cabriolet range, including 3 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Audi Cabriolet? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
B3 (1991–1998) — Engine options included the 2.0 16V, 2.3 20V, 2.6 V6. Our database flags 5 known issues on this generation, 3 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Flexible brake hose deterioration (£150–£250 to address).
B4 (1998–2001) — Engine options included the 1.8T, 2.6 V6. Our database flags 5 known issues on this generation, 3 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Flexible brake hose deterioration (£150–£250 to address).
The flexible brake hoses connecting the rigid brake lines to the brake calipers are prone to internal deterioration and external damage on this model. The rubber degrades with age and exposure, causing the hose wall to swell, crack, or separate internally. This creates a dangerous brake system weakness that can result in sudden brake failure. The issue affects all engine variants and becomes critical above 60,000 miles.
Complete brake failure can occur without warning if a hose ruptures. Partial internal blockage reduces braking efficiency and can cause brake bias problems leading to loss of control. Replacement of all four hoses is typically required as a safety precaution once deterioration is identified.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
Front and rear wheel bearings develop excessive play significantly more often than the fleet average on this model. The bearing assemblies are not particularly robust and deteriorate with age and mileage, creating dangerous handling characteristics and potential wheel detachment risk. The problem affects all engine variants and becomes pronounced above 60,000 miles.
Severely worn bearings can seize or collapse completely, causing wheel detachment and total loss of vehicle control. Even moderate wear creates dangerous handling characteristics, increased tyre wear, and potential damage to the hub assembly requiring more expensive repairs.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
The 2.6 V6 variants show significantly higher rates of suspension component corrosion compared to other engines and the fleet average. This affects control arms, subframe mounting points, and suspension mounting brackets. The issue becomes critical above 80,000 miles and can compromise vehicle safety through structural weakness or complete component failure.
Severe corrosion can cause complete structural failure of suspension components leading to loss of vehicle control. Even moderate corrosion weakens the suspension system and creates dangerous handling characteristics. MOT failure is certain once corrosion exceeds acceptable limits.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
The 2.6 V6 engine develops emissions problems that cause MOT failures at a rate 20 times higher than the fleet average on high-mileage examples. The issue typically involves deterioration of the catalytic converter, lambda sensors, or carbon build-up affecting the fuel mixture. This is particularly problematic on the V6 variant which has more complex emissions control systems than the four-cylinder engines.
MOT failure prevents legal road use until repaired. Catalytic converter replacement is expensive and other emissions components may need simultaneous replacement. Continued driving with emissions problems can damage other engine components and reduce fuel economy significantly.
Check for any engine warning lights on the dashboard. Ask about the car's MOT emissions history — repeated failures suggest underlying issues. A pre-purchase diagnostic scan is especially worthwhile to check for stored emissions fault codes.
Suspension bushes and ball joints wear at rates significantly above the fleet average on this model, particularly affecting the 2.6 V6 and 1.8T variants. The rubber bushes perish with age and the ball joints develop play, creating handling problems and MOT failures. The issue becomes pronounced above 60,000 miles as the suspension components reach the end of their design life.
Worn suspension components compromise vehicle handling and safety, particularly in emergency manoeuvres. MOT failure is inevitable once wear exceeds limits. Continued use accelerates tyre wear and can cause damage to other suspension components requiring more extensive repairs.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Audi Cabriolet common problems page.
Based on 7k real DVSA MOT tests, the Audi Cabriolet fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is brake hoses perished or damaged at 28x the fleet average, followed by wheel bearings worn (23x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Audi Cabriolet MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 10k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include timing belt and tensioner (£300–£450).
See the full Audi Cabriolet service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Audi Cabriolet has some well-documented weak points, including 3 safety-critical issues that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Audi Cabriolet, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 5 known Audi Cabriolet issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.