2011 Audi A7 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 9,435 MOT tests, the 2011 Audi A7 recorded an 85.6% pass rate. That is 5.2 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.6%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.5%) and suspension (5.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, pins and bushes and coil spring — tread depth alone was recorded 477 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 15.5% versus 6.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.5% | 615 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.9% | 552 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 340 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.1% | 200 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.8% | 171 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 130 |
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 | 477 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 314 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 292 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 209 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 117 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 114 |
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 | 26.2% | 2,469 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.4% | 1,735 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.7% | 1,296 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 769 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.7% | 636 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.8% | 548 |
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 | 31 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 462 | 10.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,971 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,280 | 15.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,381 | 14.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,309 | 15.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,038 | 14.5% |
| Petrol | 397 | 11.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,097 | 13.9% |
| 2022 | 2,004 | 14.1% |
| 2023 | 1,930 | 14.9% |
| 2024 | 1,774 | 14.4% |
| 2025 | 1,630 | 14.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 A7
On a 2011 A7, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.5% 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.
- Suspension (5.9% 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 (3.6% 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 2011 Audi A7s pass their MOT?
85.6% of the 9,435 2011 Audi A7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Audi A7?
Tyres, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by suspension (5.9%).
Does the 2011 A7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 15.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,435 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.