2014 Audi A7 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,068 MOT tests, the 2014 Audi A7 recorded an 87.3% pass rate. That is 2.8 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 15.5%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.4% of tests against 2.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 329 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.7% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 10.1% fail against 12.9% for diesel, a 2.9-point gap across 11,068 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.4% | 822 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 296 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.5% | 275 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.9% | 213 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 159 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 91 |
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 | 329 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 223 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 169 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 156 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 141 |
| 6 | Wipers | 101 |
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 | 23.4% | 2,584 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.9% | 1,320 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.6% | 1,178 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.7% | 634 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 488 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 165 |
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 | 219 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,022 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 4,413 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,950 | 13.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,069 | 12.4% |
| 150k+ | 393 | 13.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,163 | 12.9% |
| Petrol | 905 | 10.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,312 | 12.5% |
| 2022 | 2,215 | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 2,232 | 12.0% |
| 2024 | 2,184 | 13.2% |
| 2025 | 2,125 | 14.1% |
What to check before buying a 2014 A7
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.4% 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 (2.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.5% 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 2014 Audi A7s pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 11,068 2014 Audi A7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Audi A7?
Tyres, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.7%).
Does the 2014 A7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 0-30k band to 13.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,068 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.