2013 Audi A7 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Audi A7 passed 86.1% of its 11,106 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.0 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 16.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 7.7% of all tests — 4.3 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 470 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.0% in the 0-30k band and 14.8% in the 150k+ band, a 9.8-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 13.5% of the time against 13.9% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.7% | 852 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 374 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.2% | 356 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.1% | 235 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 197 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 95 |
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 | 470 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 311 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 203 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 172 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 171 |
| 6 | Washers | 122 |
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 | 23.5% | 2,605 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.3% | 1,584 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.1% | 1,455 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.1% | 678 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 504 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 358 |
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 | 80 | 5.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,239 | 13.4% |
| 60-90k | 3,691 | 13.6% |
| 90-120k | 3,647 | 14.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,732 | 14.0% |
| 150k+ | 716 | 14.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,535 | 13.9% |
| Petrol | 571 | 13.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,284 | 13.1% |
| 2022 | 2,290 | 13.8% |
| 2023 | 2,275 | 14.4% |
| 2024 | 2,170 | 14.1% |
| 2025 | 2,087 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a 2013 A7
On a 2013 A7, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.2% 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.
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 2013 Audi A7s pass their MOT?
86.1% of the 11,106 2013 Audi A7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Audi A7?
Tyres, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.4%).
Does the 2013 A7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.0% in the 0-30k band to 14.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,106 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.