2017 Audi A5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Audi A5 passed 87.9% of its 80,122 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 11.6%, so the 2017 A5 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.9%) and suspension (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and brake pads — coil spring alone was recorded 2,872 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.3% in the 0-30k band and 16.4% in the 150k+ band, a 9.0-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (12.8% vs 11.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 4,759 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.3% | 3,466 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.7% | 1,352 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.3% | 1,070 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 891 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 804 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 2,872 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,776 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,275 |
| 4 | Wipers | 968 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 789 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 753 |
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 | 22.0% | 17,600 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.1% | 10,468 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.3% | 9,013 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 4,761 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 2,252 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 444 |
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 | 11,763 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 39,081 | 11.4% |
| 60-90k | 21,757 | 14.6% |
| 90-120k | 5,873 | 16.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,279 | 16.2% |
| 150k+ | 367 | 16.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 42,930 | 12.8% |
| Petrol | 37,192 | 11.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,069 | 8.7% |
| 2022 | 15,838 | 10.0% |
| 2023 | 16,074 | 12.3% |
| 2024 | 16,090 | 14.1% |
| 2025 | 16,051 | 15.5% |
What to check before buying a 2017 A5
On a 2017 A5, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.9% 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 (4.3% 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 (1.7% 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 A5s pass their MOT?
87.9% of the 80,122 2017 Audi A5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Audi A5?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by suspension (4.3%).
Does the 2017 A5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 16.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 80,122 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.