1997 Audi A8 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

53.8%

Latest Pass Rate

2,619

Total Tests (All Years)

121,672 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Audi A8 as it ages.

12 yrs53.2%

→ ↓0.2%

13 yrs53.0%

→ ↓2.1%

14 yrs50.9%

→ ↑0.4%

15 yrs51.3%

→ ↓2.6%

16 yrs48.7%

→ ↑7.0%

17 yrs55.7%

→ ↑1.3%

18 yrs57.0%

→ ↓1.9%

19 yrs55.1%

→ ↑0.5%

20 yrs55.6%

→ ↑9.7%

21 yrs65.3%

→ ↑1.9%

22 yrs67.2%

→ ↑14.1%

23 yrs81.3%

→ ↓15.1%

24 yrs66.2%

→ ↑2.2%

25 yrs68.4%

→ ↓14.3%

26 yrs54.1%

→ ↓0.3%

27 yrs53.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	53.2%	442
13 yrs	53.0%	383
14 yrs	50.9%	334
15 yrs	51.3%	261
16 yrs	48.7%	224
17 yrs	55.7%	174
18 yrs	57.0%	149
19 yrs	55.1%	118
20 yrs	55.6%	126
21 yrs	65.3%	75
22 yrs	67.2%	67
23 yrs	81.3%	48
24 yrs	66.2%	65
25 yrs	68.4%	38
26 yrs	54.1%	37
27 yrs	53.8%	78

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Audi A8 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (27 yrs)	53.8%	78
2023 (26 yrs)	54.1%	37
2022 (25 yrs)	68.4%	38
2021 (24 yrs)	66.2%	65
2020 (23 yrs)	81.3%	48
2019 (22 yrs)	67.2%	67
2018 (21 yrs)	65.3%	75
2017 (20 yrs)	55.6%	126
2016 (19 yrs)	55.1%	118
2015 (18 yrs)	57%	149
2014 (17 yrs)	55.7%	174
2013 (16 yrs)	48.7%	224
2012 (15 yrs)	51.3%	261
2011 (14 yrs)	50.9%	334
2010 (13 yrs)	53%	383
2009 (12 yrs)	53.2%	442

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

53.2%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 442Avg Mileage 129,639Top Failure Suspension — 25.3%

2010High Fail Rate

53.0%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 383Avg Mileage 131,394Top Failure Suspension — 29.0%

2011High Fail Rate

50.9%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 334Avg Mileage 134,460Top Failure Brakes — 28.1%

2012High Fail Rate

51.3%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 261Avg Mileage 132,675Top Failure Suspension — 35.6%

2013High Fail Rate

48.7%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 224Avg Mileage 134,787Top Failure Brakes — 87.5%

2014High Fail Rate

55.7%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 174Avg Mileage 136,439Top Failure Brakes — 87.9%

2015High Fail Rate

57.0%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 149Avg Mileage 137,079Top Failure Suspension — 59.7%

2016High Fail Rate

55.1%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 118Avg Mileage 136,562Top Failure Suspension — 66.1%

2017High Fail Rate

55.6%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 126Avg Mileage 137,884Top Failure Suspension — 72.2%

2018

65.3%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 75Avg Mileage 142,227Top Failure Brakes — 44.0%

2019

67.2%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 67Avg Mileage 144,169Top Failure Suspension — 46.3%

2020

81.3%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 48Avg Mileage 142,837Top Failure Suspension — 18.8%

2021

66.2%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 65Avg Mileage 141,007Top Failure Brakes — 55.4%

2022

68.4%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 38Avg Mileage 145,160Top Failure Suspension — 44.7%

2023High Fail Rate

54.1%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 37Avg Mileage 132,510Top Failure Brakes — 81.1%

2024High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 78Avg Mileage 121,672Top Failure Suspension — 50.0%

MOT results for 1997 Audi A8 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	53.2%	442	129,639	Suspension — 25.3%
2010	13	53.0%	383	131,394	Suspension — 29.0%
2011	14	50.9%	334	134,460	Brakes — 28.1%
2012	15	51.3%	261	132,675	Suspension — 35.6%
2013	16	48.7%	224	134,787	Brakes — 87.5%
2014	17	55.7%	174	136,439	Brakes — 87.9%
2015	18	57.0%	149	137,079	Suspension — 59.7%
2016	19	55.1%	118	136,562	Suspension — 66.1%
2017	20	55.6%	126	137,884	Suspension — 72.2%
2018	21	65.3%	75	142,227	Brakes — 44.0%
2019	22	67.2%	67	144,169	Suspension — 46.3%
2020	23	81.3%	48	142,837	Suspension — 18.8%
2021	24	66.2%	65	141,007	Brakes — 55.4%
2022	25	68.4%	38	145,160	Suspension — 44.7%
2023	26	54.1%	37	132,510	Brakes — 81.1%
2024	27	53.8%	78	121,672	Suspension — 50.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Audi A8, with age trends.

Brakes

48.3%

— Consistent

Suspension

47.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

26.6%

— Consistent

Tyres

21.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

20.8%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	25.3% (12 yrs)	50.0% (27 yrs)	+24.7%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	14.7% (12 yrs)	25.6% (27 yrs)	+10.9%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	24.2% (12 yrs)	26.9% (27 yrs)	+2.7%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Audi A8 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Audi A8 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 2,619 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.