2007 Audi S5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 684 MOT tests, the 2007 Audi S5 recorded an 82.8% pass rate. Against executive cars of a similar age (23.2% fail rate), the 2007 S5 comes out 6.0pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.6%) and lighting & signalling (6.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and headlamp — pins and bushes alone was recorded 40 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2007 S5 fails 19.4% of the time in the 30-60k band and 19.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.1 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.6% | 52 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 43 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.4% | 37 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.8% | 26 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 20 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 20 |
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 | 40 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 21 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 20 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 17 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 16 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.6% | 223 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.0% | 137 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.9% | 102 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.6% | 59 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 58 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.0% | 55 |
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 | 36 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 129 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 299 | 15.7% |
| 120-150k | 183 | 20.2% |
| 150k+ | 31 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 150 | 18.0% |
| 2022 | 145 | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 143 | 19.6% |
| 2024 | 130 | 17.7% |
| 2025 | 116 | 19.8% |
What to check before buying a 2007 S5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.6% 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 (6.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.4% 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.
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 S5s pass their MOT?
82.8% of the 684 2007 Audi S5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Audi S5?
Suspension, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.3%).
Does the 2007 S5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.4% in the 30-60k band to 19.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 684 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.