MOT Risk Index.co.uk

Does the Audi Q7 fail the MOT on steering more than it should?

The Audi Q7 records 0.85 steering failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 2.16 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−1.31, 95% interval −1.37 to −1.25). It ranks 398 of 640 models on steering (1 = most failures above expected).

Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on steering · check a Audi Q7 by registration

What exactly fails on steering?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Audi Q7 is “Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated”, recorded 381 times in 2019–2024.

Audi Q7: most frequent steering defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wordingItemsPer 100 tests
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated3810.15
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc3430.13
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play3250.13
A steering linkage component with excessive movement between components or likely to become detached2590.10
Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning2100.08

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 254,499 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

If a Audi Q7 gets a steering advisory, how often does it fail next time?

4.9% of Audi Q7 MOTs with a steering advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 8,155 miles later (1,296 advisories followed).

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,296 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

Other pages for this model

Audi Q7 2006 · Audi Q7 2007 · Audi Q7 2008 · Audi Q7 2009 · Audi Q7 2010 · Audi Q7 2011 · Audi Q7 2012 · Audi Q7 2013 · Audi Q7 2014 · Audi Q7 2015 · Audi Q7 2016 · Audi Q7 2017 · Audi Q7 2018 · Audi Q7 2019 · Audi Q7 2020 · Audi Q7 in Norway · Audi Q7 in Finland · Audi Q7 in the Netherlands · Audi Q7 by postcode area · Audi Q7 body, chassis and structure failures · Audi Q7 brakes failures · Audi Q7 vehicle identification failures · Audi Q7 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Audi Q7 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Audi Q7 road wheels failures · Audi Q7 seat belts and airbags failures · Audi Q7 suspension failures · Audi Q7 tyres failures · Audi Q7 visibility failures