2010 Audi A7 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Audi A7 passed 84.3% of its 772 recorded MOT tests. Against executive cars of a similar age (20.7% fail rate), the 2010 A7 comes out 5.0pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.6%) and tyres (5.3%) 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 coil spring — pins and bushes alone was recorded 38 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 20.8% versus 6.3%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.6% | 43 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.3% | 41 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 27 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.0% | 23 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 17 |
| 6 | Brakes | 2.1% | 16 |
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 | 38 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 26 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 17 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 16 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 6 | Joints | 14 |
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 | 22.4% | 173 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.4% | 150 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.7% | 98 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 11.1% | 86 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.3% | 64 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 39 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 32 | 6.3% |
| 60-90k | 147 | 15.7% |
| 90-120k | 258 | 13.2% |
| 120-150k | 237 | 17.7% |
| 150k+ | 96 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 695 | 15.5% |
| Petrol | 77 | 16.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 175 | 17.1% |
| 2022 | 172 | 15.7% |
| 2023 | 157 | 13.4% |
| 2024 | 144 | 15.3% |
| 2025 | 124 | 16.9% |
What to check before buying a 2010 A7
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 5.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (5.6% 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.
- Tyres (5.3% 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 (3.5% 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 2010 Audi A7s pass their MOT?
84.3% of the 772 2010 Audi A7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Audi A7?
Suspension, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by tyres (5.3%).
Does the 2010 A7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 30-60k band to 20.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 772 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.