2021 Audi A7 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,562 MOT tests, the 2021 Audi A7 recorded a 90.5% pass rate. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (9.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, emissions & environmental and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests against 1.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, malfunction indicator lamp and registration plates — tread depth alone was recorded 56 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.8% versus 7.4%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 93 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 25 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 21 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.0% | 16 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.0% | 15 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.7% | 11 |
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 | 56 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 21 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 17 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 15 |
| 6 | Washers | 12 |
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 | 22.4% | 350 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.1% | 157 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.2% | 96 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 63 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 56 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 2 |
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 | 606 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 795 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 135 | 14.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,119 | 10.4% |
| Petrol | 302 | 8.0% |
| Hybrid | 141 | 6.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 788 | 9.8% |
| 2025 | 742 | 8.9% |
What to check before buying a 2021 A7
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.9% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.6% 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 2021 Audi A7s pass their MOT?
90.5% of the 1,562 2021 Audi A7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Audi A7?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.6%).
Does the 2021 A7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 14.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,562 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.