Audi A5 (2017)

15,176 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.2% first-time pass rate

2017 Audi A5

CarHunch analysed 15,176 real MOT records for the 2017 Audi A5. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2017 Audi A5 passes its MOT on the first attempt 89.2% of the time, well above the UK average of 80%, but there's a significant caveat: 27% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is substantially higher than typical and should concern any potential buyer. Petrol versions perform marginally better (90% pass rate) than diesels (88.6%), though the difference is small.

At a median mileage of 53,779 miles for a seven-year-old car, these A5s are running slightly below average wear, yet they still accumulate 6.2 advisories per vehicle on average, suggesting routine maintenance costs will be noticeable. Before buying, run a full service history check and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the areas flagged most often in advisories—likely suspension, braking, and electrical components—as these recurring issues point to where money will need to go.

Below average reliability 9.2% above UK average
89.2%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
53,779
typical mileage
41,838–68,721 middle half
27%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.83
avg MOT failures per car
over 6.7 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2017 Audi A5

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 27% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Audi A5

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (55%) 8,284 88.6% 0.87
Petrol (45%) 6,892 90% 0.78

Mileage Distribution

Most 2017 Audi A5 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

41,838
low mileage
53,779
typical
68,721
high mileage

Half of all 2017 Audi A5 vehicles fall between 41,838 and 68,721 miles.

2017 Audi A5 — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 13,194 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 91% of the peak.

14,563 13,194 2020 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.

MOT History Averages

6.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.83
Avg failures per vehicle
6.2
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2017 Audi A5

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 38.2%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 37.8%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 27.9%
    Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 24.1%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 23%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 21.3%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 14.5%
    COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION
  • 11.1%
    Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2017. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Audi A5?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Audi A5:

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2020 2021