2017 Audi A4 — MOT failures & pass rate
122,125 MOT tests on the 2017 Audi A4 are in this dataset, and 87.5% of them passed. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (11.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.7%) and suspension (4.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 4,729 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.4% versus 7.2%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 11.6% fail against 13.2% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 122,125 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 7,003 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.5% | 5,442 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.8% | 2,182 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.8% | 2,135 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 1,696 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 1,385 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 4,729 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 4,381 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,974 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,603 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,491 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,257 |
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 | 22.7% | 27,733 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.7% | 16,707 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.8% | 14,361 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.6% | 9,312 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 4,023 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 747 |
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 | 13,026 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 52,891 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 37,048 | 14.6% |
| 90-120k | 13,600 | 15.6% |
| 120-150k | 4,004 | 15.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,554 | 17.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 66,894 | 13.2% |
| Petrol | 55,231 | 11.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24,527 | 8.8% |
| 2022 | 24,038 | 10.3% |
| 2023 | 24,418 | 12.9% |
| 2024 | 24,495 | 14.4% |
| 2025 | 24,647 | 15.9% |
What to check before buying a 2017 A4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.7% 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 (4.5% 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.
- Brakes (1.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 A4s pass their MOT?
87.5% of the 122,125 2017 Audi A4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Audi A4?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by suspension (4.5%).
Does the 2017 A4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 17.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 122,125 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.