Used car guide

2017 Audi A6: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2017 Audi A6s, from 9,212 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

9,212MOT tests in 2025
85%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%)
10,000typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2017 Audi A6s than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.1× usual
    Audi A6
    3.1% All 2017 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0.8% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

By area

The share of 2017 Audi A6 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    26% 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.

  • Brakes
    13% 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.

  • Suspension
    12% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    5% 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
    3% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Driveshafts and joints
    3% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023613Tyres 12%
20224,100Tyres 25%
20214,607Tyres 23%
20203,476Tyres 23%
20198,744Tyres 25%
20188,079Tyres 27%
201612,939Tyres 26%
201511,038Tyres 27%
201410,360Tyres 29%
201310,013Tyres 30%
20127,674Tyres 31%
20116,524Suspension 36%
20106,176Suspension 40%
20093,830Suspension 41%
20084,690Suspension 49%
20074,436Suspension 46%
20062,407Suspension 48%
20051,375Suspension 47%
2004807Suspension 48%
2003574Suspension 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2017 Audi A6s registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score