2009 Audi Q7 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,598 MOT tests, the 2009 Audi Q7 recorded an 82.4% pass rate. Against large SUVs of a similar age (21.7% fail rate), the 2009 Q7 comes out 4.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.3%) and tyres (6.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, ball joint and position lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 311 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2009 Q7 fails 18.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 18.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.6 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 703 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.5% | 490 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.7% | 435 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.5% | 342 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 247 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 247 |
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 | 311 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 264 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 245 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 236 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 214 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 170 |
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 | 27.0% | 2,049 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.8% | 1,656 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.3% | 1,543 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 1,035 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.4% | 943 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.6% | 726 |
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 | 122 | 18.0% |
| 60-90k | 890 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,393 | 17.8% |
| 120-150k | 2,541 | 17.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,635 | 18.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,512 | 17.5% |
| Petrol | 86 | 20.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,687 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 1,658 | 17.8% |
| 2023 | 1,552 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 1,405 | 18.0% |
| 2025 | 1,296 | 17.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Q7
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.5% 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 (5.7% 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.
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 2009 Audi Q7s pass their MOT?
82.4% of the 7,598 2009 Audi Q7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Audi Q7?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by tyres (6.5%).
Does the 2009 Q7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.0% in the 30-60k band to 18.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,598 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.