2017 Audi Q7 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Audi Q7 passed 87.3% of its 30,072 recorded MOT tests. Against large SUVs of a similar age (11.3% fail rate), the 2017 Q7 comes out 1.4pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.6%) and suspension (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and pins and bushes — coil spring alone was recorded 1,396 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2017 Q7 fails 9.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.4 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.6% | 1,689 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.3% | 1,582 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.7% | 496 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.4% | 410 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 378 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 293 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,396 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 921 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 509 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 502 |
| 5 | Wipers | 344 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 291 |
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 | 20.0% | 6,003 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.5% | 4,348 |
| 3 | Other defects | 10.1% | 3,047 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.3% | 2,495 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 1,117 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 214 |
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 | 2,720 | 9.0% |
| 30-60k | 13,623 | 12.4% |
| 60-90k | 9,908 | 13.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,964 | 14.2% |
| 120-150k | 654 | 13.2% |
| 150k+ | 202 | 11.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 30,011 | 12.8% |
| Petrol | 56 | 12.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,086 | 10.5% |
| 2022 | 5,942 | 11.9% |
| 2023 | 6,095 | 13.8% |
| 2024 | 6,045 | 14.1% |
| 2025 | 5,904 | 13.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Q7
On a 2017 Q7, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Suspension (5.3% 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.
- Brakes (1.7% 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 2017 Audi Q7s pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 30,072 2017 Audi Q7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Audi Q7?
Tyres, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by suspension (5.3%).
Does the 2017 Q7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.0% in the 0-30k band to 11.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 30,072 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.