2017 Audi A1 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Audi A1 passed 86.7% of its 131,444 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail at 13.4%, so the 2017 A1 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.8%) and suspension (4.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, tread depth and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 5,851 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.7% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.7pp more often than petrol ones (15.7% vs 12.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 7,606 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.7% | 6,222 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 3,944 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.6% | 3,475 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 1,831 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 1,408 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 5,851 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 3,718 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,304 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 2,234 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 2,096 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 1,588 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.6% | 34,895 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.0% | 23,695 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.0% | 11,797 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.5% | 8,518 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 3,440 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 915 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 39,947 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 67,887 | 14.1% |
| 60-90k | 20,197 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,941 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 370 | 23.0% |
| 150k+ | 83 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 115,278 | 12.9% |
| Diesel | 16,166 | 15.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,290 | 8.6% |
| 2022 | 25,620 | 10.5% |
| 2023 | 26,533 | 13.9% |
| 2024 | 26,881 | 16.0% |
| 2025 | 27,120 | 16.9% |
What to check before buying a 2017 A1
On a 2017 A1, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (4.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (3.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2017 Audi A1s pass their MOT?
86.7% of the 131,444 2017 Audi A1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Audi A1?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by suspension (4.7%).
Does the 2017 A1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 131,444 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.