Used car guide

2008 Audi Q7: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Audi Q7s, from 1,847 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,847MOT tests in 2025
72%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
8,200typical miles a year
7.2×the usual rate for sub-frame bushes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Audi Q7s than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Sub-frame bushes7.2× usual
    Audi Q7
    4.3% All 2008 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Suspension arm1.9× usual
    Audi Q7
    7% All 2008 cars
    3.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

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

Better than most

Exhaust system: 1.7% here, against 9% of all 2008 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 3% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Audi Q7 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    34% 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
    33% 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
    31% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    30% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    21% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Looking at a Audi Q7?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20223,209Tyres 26%
20213,146Tyres 24%
20203,591Tyres 25%
20194,443Tyres 26%
20184,695Tyres 26%
20175,195Tyres 25%
20164,755Tyres 24%
20153,159Tyres 26%
20143,121Tyres 30%
20133,083Tyres 30%
20122,217Tyres 30%
20111,681Tyres 30%
20101,346Tyres 34%
20091,131Tyres 31%
20072,484Tyres 35%
2006953Suspension 34%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Audi Q7s registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score