2017 Infiniti Q50 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Infiniti Q50 passed 86.5% of its 2,344 recorded MOT tests. Against executive cars of a similar age (11.6% fail rate), the 2017 Q50 comes out 1.9pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (5.6%) and tyres (5.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, tread depth and wipers — brake pads alone was recorded 110 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.1% in the 0-30k band and 16.7% in the 150k+ band, a 8.5-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 22.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 5.6% | 131 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.2% | 121 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.8% | 66 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 54 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 48 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 40 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 110 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 55 |
| 3 | Wipers | 45 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 36 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joints | 32 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 31 |
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 | 22.7% | 531 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.4% | 525 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.5% | 386 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.9% | 114 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 63 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 35 |
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 | 307 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,053 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 695 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 198 | 16.7% |
| 120-150k | 55 | 18.2% |
| 150k+ | 36 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,116 | 13.9% |
| Hybrid | 204 | 9.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 467 | 10.9% |
| 2022 | 468 | 11.8% |
| 2023 | 466 | 12.4% |
| 2024 | 460 | 13.9% |
| 2025 | 483 | 18.2% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Q50
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 5.6% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (5.6% 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.
- Tyres (5.2% 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 (2.8% 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.
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 Infiniti Q50s pass their MOT?
86.5% of the 2,344 2017 Infiniti Q50 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Infiniti Q50?
Brakes, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by tyres (5.2%).
Does the 2017 Q50 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,344 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.