2017 Audi A6 — MOT failures & pass rate
52,499 MOT tests on the 2017 Audi A6 are in this dataset, and 90.3% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 11.6% of the time, so this is 1.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests against 1.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 1,541 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.9% in the 0-30k band and 13.0% in the 150k+ band, a 7.1-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.9% of the time against 9.8% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 2,907 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 916 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.3% | 699 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 687 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 659 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 564 |
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 | 1,541 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 734 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 621 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 605 |
| 5 | Joints | 497 |
| 6 | Washers | 360 |
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 | 21.2% | 11,112 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.3% | 5,948 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.8% | 3,592 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.2% | 3,253 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 1,825 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 454 |
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 | 4,536 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 21,489 | 8.7% |
| 60-90k | 16,652 | 10.8% |
| 90-120k | 6,621 | 11.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,138 | 12.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,058 | 13.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 47,961 | 9.8% |
| Petrol | 4,536 | 8.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,819 | 8.4% |
| 2022 | 10,439 | 8.3% |
| 2023 | 10,469 | 9.5% |
| 2024 | 10,509 | 11.0% |
| 2025 | 10,263 | 11.3% |
What to check before buying a 2017 A6
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.5% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.3% 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 A6s pass their MOT?
90.3% of the 52,499 2017 Audi A6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Audi A6?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.7%).
Does the 2017 A6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 13.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 52,499 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.