2018 Audi A7 — MOT failures & pass rate
7,693 MOT tests on the 2018 Audi A7 are in this dataset, and 90.8% of them passed. Against executive cars of a similar age (10.8% fail rate), the 2018 A7 comes out 1.6pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, emissions & environmental and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 5.6% of tests against 1.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, malfunction indicator lamp and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 232 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 12.8% once past 120-150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 6.8% fail against 9.8% for diesel, a 3.0-point gap across 7,690 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.6% | 428 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 111 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 100 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.1% | 85 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.1% | 82 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.7% | 54 |
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 | 232 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 106 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 95 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 86 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 82 |
| 6 | Washers | 49 |
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 | 19.3% | 1,483 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.6% | 737 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.5% | 498 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.9% | 377 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 252 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 22 |
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 | 1,869 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 3,813 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,655 | 9.7% |
| 90-120k | 298 | 11.4% |
| 120-150k | 47 | 12.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,208 | 9.8% |
| Petrol | 1,482 | 6.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,583 | 9.8% |
| 2022 | 1,536 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 1,535 | 8.9% |
| 2024 | 1,534 | 9.8% |
| 2025 | 1,505 | 9.6% |
What to check before buying a 2018 A7
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.6% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (1.3% 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 2018 Audi A7s pass their MOT?
90.8% of the 7,693 2018 Audi A7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Audi A7?
Tyres, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.4%).
Does the 2018 A7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 12.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,693 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.