MOT fail rates by first-use year
2007 Audi A5 MOT fail rate and common faults
How Audi A5 cars first used in 2007 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 5,709 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 18 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 18 years old, Audi A5 cars first used in 2007 failed 28.9% of MOTs (1,168 tests), 14.3 points below the 43.3% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 15 to 18 years old, the fail rate moved from 26.3% to 28.9%.
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Audi A5 at 18 years, is coil spring broken, at 3.7 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 3.1).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 15 years | 26.3% | 1,674 | 41.6% | −15.3 pts |
| 2023 | 16 years | 28.7% | 1,528 | 42.6% | −13.8 pts |
| 2024 | 17 years | 28.5% | 1,339 | 43.1% | −14.6 pts |
| 2025 | 18 years | 28.9% | 1,168 | 43.3% | −14.3 pts |
Most common faults at 18 years
These figures cover all Audi A5 MOTs at 18 years: cars first used in 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=1,168). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Coil spring broken | 3.7 | 3.1 |
| Headlamp aim: too low Wear | 2.7 | 1.7 |
| Tyre with cords exposed Wear | 2.7 | 1.7 |
| Suspension arm bush worn | 2.5 | 2.2 |
| Headlight aimed too high Wear | 2.3 | 1.2 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 2.3 | 2.9 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| Engine warning lamp at the petrol emissions check: not working or showing a fault | 2.1 | 2.5 |
| Dipped headlight not working Wear | 2.0 | 2.1 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Wear | 1.7 | 3.0 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=1,168). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 21.5 | 8.5 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 18.2 | 17.4 |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened | 14.1 | 5.3 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 11.0 | 12.6 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 10.8 | 11.1 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 7.3 | 6.4 |
| Shock absorber misting oil | 5.4 | 3.9 |
| Windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view | 5.2 | 3.7 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 4.1 | 9.8 |
| Coil spring: corroded | 3.9 | 7.7 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=1,168). A test with two items counts once for each.
Car tax rules for a 2007 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
- Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2007 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Audi A5
Other Audi models first used in 2007
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi A4 (2007) | 18 years in 2025 | 35.6% | 12,524 | 43.3% |
| Audi A3 (2007) | 18 years in 2025 | 40.9% | 12,251 | 43.3% |
| Audi TT (2007) | 18 years in 2025 | 34.0% | 7,435 | 43.3% |
| Audi A6 (2007) | 18 years in 2025 | 34.1% | 4,451 | 43.3% |
| Audi Q7 (2007) | 18 years in 2025 | 27.8% | 2,491 | 43.3% |
More on the Audi A5
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2007 Audi A5 cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.