Used car guide

2017 Audi A4: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2017 Audi A4s, from 21,037 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

21,037MOT tests in 2025
79%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%)
9,400typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2017 Audi A4s than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.6× usual
    Audi A4
    12.5% All 2017 cars
    4.8%
    Rough price £100–£300

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Coil springs2.9× usual
    Audi A4
    8.5% All 2017 cars
    2.9%
    Rough price £120–£300

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Coil springs32× usual
    Audi A4
    3.2% All 2017 cars
    0.1%
    Rough price £120–£300

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

By area

The share of 2017 Audi A4 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    28% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Suspension
    23% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    16% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Lights and electrics
    4% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Audi A4?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20205,843Tyres 29%
201912,714Tyres 30%
201813,510Tyres 28%
201621,704Tyres 29%
201516,061Tyres 31%
201416,500Tyres 32%
201315,547Suspension 34%
201212,883Suspension 37%
201113,173Suspension 45%
201012,092Suspension 45%
200911,511Suspension 47%
200813,145Suspension 52%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2017 Audi A4s registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score