2017 Audi A7 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 9,246 MOT tests, the 2017 Audi A7 recorded an 89.6% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail 11.6% of the time, so this is 1.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 6.9% of all tests — 5.4 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and malfunction indicator lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 213 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 15.0% versus 8.2%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 10.0% of the time against 10.4% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.9% | 641 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.5% | 140 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 117 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 104 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 70 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.7% | 64 |
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 | 213 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 115 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 95 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 83 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 72 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 38 |
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 | 19.6% | 1,809 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.2% | 941 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.5% | 513 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.4% | 500 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 385 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 65 |
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 | 1,078 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 4,450 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,790 | 11.8% |
| 90-120k | 711 | 9.4% |
| 120-150k | 157 | 12.1% |
| 150k+ | 60 | 15.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,354 | 10.4% |
| Petrol | 892 | 10.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,897 | 10.1% |
| 2022 | 1,839 | 9.1% |
| 2023 | 1,826 | 9.9% |
| 2024 | 1,888 | 12.4% |
| 2025 | 1,796 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 A7
On a 2017 A7, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.9% 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.
- Brakes (1.5% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 A7s pass their MOT?
89.6% of the 9,246 2017 Audi A7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Audi A7?
Tyres, recorded in 6.9% of tests, followed by brakes (1.5%).
Does the 2017 A7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 15.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,246 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.