2007 Audi A8 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,692 MOT tests, the 2007 Audi A8 recorded an 84.4% pass rate. That is 7.5 percentage points better than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.3% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, position lamp and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 147 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 16.1% versus 8.0%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (16.1% vs 13.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 306 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.2% | 193 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.0% | 183 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.1% | 150 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.5% | 130 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 119 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 147 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 131 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 110 |
| 4 | Washers | 107 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 97 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 87 |
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 | 24.4% | 902 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.8% | 840 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.1% | 704 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 525 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 242 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.5% | 240 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 88 | 8.0% |
| 60-90k | 309 | 11.3% |
| 90-120k | 665 | 15.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,024 | 16.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,585 | 16.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,019 | 16.1% |
| Petrol | 673 | 13.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 940 | 15.8% |
| 2022 | 848 | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 717 | 14.6% |
| 2024 | 648 | 16.2% |
| 2025 | 539 | 16.5% |
What to check before buying a 2007 A8
On a 2007 A8, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.2% 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.
- Suspension (5.0% 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 2007 Audi A8s pass their MOT?
84.4% of the 3,692 2007 Audi A8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Audi A8?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests, followed by tyres (5.2%).
Does the 2007 A8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 30-60k band to 16.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,692 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.