2007 Audi RS4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,479 MOT tests, the 2007 Audi RS4 recorded an 85.3% pass rate. Against executive cars of a similar age (23.2% fail rate), the 2007 RS4 comes out 8.5pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.5%) and lighting & signalling (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, ball joint dust cover and catalyst emissions — joints alone was recorded 87 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 3.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.5% once past 150k — 8.5× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 19.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.0% in 2021 to 12.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.5% | 136 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 99 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.8% | 94 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 85 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 81 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.1% | 77 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 87 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 74 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 73 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 55 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 45 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 41 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 19.9% | 492 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.8% | 467 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.2% | 377 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 170 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.9% | 121 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 90 |
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 | 32 | 3.1% |
| 30-60k | 328 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 782 | 11.5% |
| 90-120k | 888 | 17.8% |
| 120-150k | 347 | 16.7% |
| 150k+ | 102 | 26.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 538 | 16.0% |
| 2022 | 510 | 14.3% |
| 2023 | 501 | 17.0% |
| 2024 | 475 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 455 | 12.5% |
What to check before buying a 2007 RS4
On a 2007 RS4, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (5.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.8% 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 2007 Audi RS4s pass their MOT?
85.3% of the 2,479 2007 Audi RS4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Audi RS4?
Suspension, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.0%).
Does the 2007 RS4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.1% in the 0-30k band to 26.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,479 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.