2017 Audi TT — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 40,126 MOT tests, the 2017 Audi TT recorded a 92.3% pass rate. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 9.8% of the time, so this is 2.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 5.0% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 1,345 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.5% once past 120-150k — 4.1× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.3pp more often than petrol ones (9.6% vs 7.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.0% | 1,988 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 752 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.3% | 537 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.1% | 449 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 163 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 142 |
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 | 1,345 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 417 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 416 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 331 |
| 5 | Wipers | 268 |
| 6 | Washers | 234 |
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 | 22.6% | 9,049 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.4% | 6,199 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.3% | 1,727 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 1,109 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.9% | 780 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 278 |
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 | 13,768 | 4.8% |
| 30-60k | 20,538 | 8.5% |
| 60-90k | 5,010 | 11.3% |
| 90-120k | 712 | 13.9% |
| 120-150k | 82 | 19.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 34,415 | 7.4% |
| Diesel | 5,711 | 9.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,988 | 6.0% |
| 2022 | 7,947 | 6.2% |
| 2023 | 8,049 | 8.1% |
| 2024 | 8,052 | 8.9% |
| 2025 | 8,090 | 9.2% |
What to check before buying a 2017 TT
On a 2017 TT, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.3% 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 TTs pass their MOT?
92.3% of the 40,126 2017 Audi TT MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Audi TT?
Tyres, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.9%).
Does the 2017 TT get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.8% in the 0-30k band to 19.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 40,126 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.