Reliability report
Audi A7 reliability and common faults
Based on 21,125 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
13.6%
fail rate · average 22.3%
much better than average
15,426 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
35.8%
with defects · average 43.3%
much better than average
2,359 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
79.0%
first-time pass · average 65.8%
much better than average
3,340 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Audi A7
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Plates and identification
Wheelsconfirmed in 2 countries
Seat belts and airbags
Tyresconfirmed in 2 countries
Exhaust and emissions
Brakes
Lights and electrics
Visibility
Steering
Suspension
Body and structure
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 2Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 3Tyre insufficient tread
- 4Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 5Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 6Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 9.5% avg 9.9% | — |
| 6–8 years | 10.6% avg 15.3% | 31.5% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 14.3% avg 22.9% | 37.8% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 16.3% avg 30.3% | 41.6% avg 55.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | A7 | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 82.1% | 83.2% | 78 |
| 2018 | 92.0% | 79.5% | 162 |
| 2017 | 64.4% | 76.6% | 59 |
| 2016 | 75.8% | 72.8% | 244 |
| 2015 | 85.6% | 71.1% | 263 |
| 2014 | 76.0% | 68.0% | 196 |
| 2013 | 71.6% | 65.9% | 352 |
| 2012 | 74.4% | 63.7% | 793 |
| 2011 | 83.0% | 61.2% | 991 |
| 2010 | 79.7% | 57.3% | 192 |
Audi A7 – FAQs
How reliable is the Audi A7?+
In the UK the Audi A7 fails 13.6% of MOT tests, against an average of 22.3% for cars of the same age – much better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 35.8% of APK inspections (average there 43.3%) – much better than average. In Lithuania 79.0% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 65.8%) – much better than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Audi A7?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: plates and identification, wheels, seat belts and airbags.
What should I check when buying a used Audi A7?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Tyre insufficient tread; Low beam incorrectly adjusted; Excessive leakage of other fluids. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Audi models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).