Audi A7
Registered from 2010 to 2025.
About this model
The Audi A7 is an executive five-door liftback produced by Audi since 2010. The coupé variant of the Audi A6 saloon/estate, the Audi A7 features a sloping roofline with a steeply raked rear window and integrated boot lid, and four frameless doors. A sport version called the S7 has been made since 2012, and a high-performance model called the RS 7 has been in production since 2013. An extended-wheelbase three-box, four-door saloon derivative called the A7L has been produced in China since 2021.
From the Wikipedia article Audi A7, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2016 3.0 diesel. 279 of 2,379 tests failed, 12%.
Better than 61% of 2016 cars. The typical one fails 13%, across 899 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres and wheels | 63% | 175 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 11% | 32 |
| Suspension | 11% | 31 |
| Brakes | 10% | 29 |
| Lights and electrics | 7% | 19 |
| Seat belts and airbags | 6% | 18 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
Where it stands out against its peers
- Tyres and wheels: failed more often than 92% of 2016 cars — 63% of its 279 failed tests, where an ordinary 2016 car has 38%.
- Seat belts and airbags: failed more often than 93% of 2016 cars — 6% of its 279 failed tests, where an ordinary 2016 car has 1%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Tyres and wheels — 63% of its failures
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Exhaust and emissions — 11% of its failures
- Suspension — 11% of its failures
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- Brakes — 10% of its failures
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator
- Lights and electrics — 7% of its failures
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator
- Seat belts and airbags — 6% of its failures
When it starts failing
At 120–140k miles this one fails 11% of its inspections, against the 19% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–40k miles | 12% | 10% | 205 | |
| 40–60k miles | 11% | 13% | 707 | |
| 60–80k miles | 13% | 16% | 772 | |
| 80–100k miles | 12% | 18% | 423 | |
| 100–120k miles | 8% | 19% | 158 | |
| 120–140k miles | 11% | 19% | 65 |
2,330 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 60k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 2.0 diesel · 201 hp · 1810 kg · 2930 mm wheelbase · 5.0 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 2.0 diesel · 201 hp · 1802 kg · 2930 mm wheelbase · 5.9 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 3.0 diesel · 274 hp · 1955 kg · 2930 mm wheelbase · 7.3 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 3.0 diesel · 280 hp · 1951 kg · 2928 mm wheelbase · 7.3 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 3.0 diesel · 277 hp · 1926 kg · 2874 mm wheelbase · 5.6 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 3.0 diesel · 259 hp · 1928 kg · 2915 mm wheelbase · 5.5 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 3.0 diesel · 268 hp · 1940 kg · 2916 mm wheelbase · 5.6 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2014 | 3.0 diesel · 257 hp · 1895 kg · 2920 mm wheelbase · 5.8 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2013 | 3.0 diesel · 250 hp · 1872 kg · 2922 mm wheelbase · 5.9 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2012 | 3.0 diesel · 224 hp · 1837 kg · 2922 mm wheelbase · 5.7 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2011 | 3.0 diesel · 220 hp · 1831 kg · 2922 mm wheelbase · 5.7 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/00504/22
Alteration of the rear axle’s toe and/or camber values lead to increased and uneven wear on the rear tyres, and if worn down to its carcass may suffer a sudden loss of pressure. This can lead to loss of traction and may affect vehicle handling, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/02640/23
The front left side airbag is not properly fixed and the seat may cause the area covered by the airbag to move slightly. As a result, the protective effect of the airbag is reduced, increasing the risk of injury in case of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
SR/00268/25
During the charging process, the high/voltage battery may overheat due to a defect in the battery modules. This can result in a fire and cause injuries to occupants and bystanders. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
SR/00999/25
The vehicles may have been fitted with a damaged module of the passengers airbag, which may impair the restraining effect of the airbag in the event of an accident, posing a risk of injury. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
SR/03985/25
The high-voltage battery’s cell modules could overheat during charging. This may lead to fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
SR/04382/25
The product has a defect in the buckle and the anchorage of the seat belt, which may result in insufficient restraining effect of the seatbelt, increasing the risk of injuries, in particular to the passengers of the front seats. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users