Audi Q3
From 197,641 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Q3s fare better: 2021 models pass at 92.9% vs 79.5% for 2011.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a suspension pin and bush or joint excessively worn. The top issue, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, caused 5,329 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 5,329 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 4,403 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 3,431 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 3,001 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 1,990 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 1,484 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 1,315 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 1,145 |
| brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn | 923 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 904 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 27.1% of Q3 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 45.3% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £139.
The warranty question
A new Q3 passes its MOT 92.6% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 86%, a 6.6 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 80.7%. With an average repair bill of £139 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a Q3 that's past its third birthday.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 88.9% while Diesel versions pass at 83.8%, a 5 percentage point gap.
Audi Q3 on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 11,334 newly registered in the past year with 1,939 leaving, a net gain of 9,395. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 163,409 | 1,225 | +2,171 | -584 | +1,587 |
| 2025 Q2 | 161,740 | 1,307 | +2,635 | -643 | +1,992 |
| 2025 Q1 | 159,880 | 1,175 | +3,369 | -536 | +2,833 |
| 2024 Q4 | 157,219 | 1,003 | +3,159 | -176 | +2,983 |
| 2024 Q3 | 154,381 | 858 | +4,306 | -734 | +3,572 |
| 2024 Q2 | 150,887 | 780 | +3,135 | -340 | +2,795 |
| 2024 Q1 | 148,093 | 779 | +2,489 | -631 | +1,858 |
| 2023 Q4 | 146,246 | 768 | +2,013 | -13 | +2,000 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 S Line 35 Tfsi Mhev S-A | Petrol | 9,822 | 9% |
| Q3 S Line + Tdi Quattro S-A | Diesel | 8,980 | 9% |
| Q3 S Line 35 Tfsi S-A | Petrol | 7,263 | 7% |
| Q3 S Line Tdi Quattro S-A | Diesel | 6,580 | 6% |
| Q3 S Line 35 Tfsi | Petrol | 6,347 | 6% |
| Q3 Se Tdi | Diesel | 6,236 | 6% |
| Q3 S Line Tdi | Petrol | 5,759 | 6% |
| Q3 Se Tdi Quattro S-A | Diesel | 5,572 | 5% |
| Q3 S Ln Blk Ed 35 Tfsi Mhev Sa | Petrol | 5,424 | 5% |
| Q3 Sport 35 Tfsi | Petrol | 4,690 | 4% |
| Q3 S Line Black Ed 35 Tfsi Sa | Petrol | 4,661 | 4% |
| Q3 S Line + Tdi Quattro | Diesel | 4,600 | 4% |
| Q3 S Line 40 Tfsi Quattro S-A | Petrol | 4,544 | 4% |
| Q3 S Line Tdi Quattro | Petrol | 4,403 | 4% |
| Q3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A | Diesel | 4,071 | 4% |
| Q3 S Line Edition Tfsi S-A | Petrol | 3,695 | 4% |
| Q3 Sport 35 Tfsi Mhev S-A | Petrol | 3,306 | 3% |
| Q3 Sport 35 Tfsi S-A | Petrol | 2,925 | 3% |
| Q3 Sport Tfsi | Petrol | 2,827 | 3% |
| Q3 Se Tdi Quattro | Diesel | 2,826 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 92.9% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn |
| 2020 | 92.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2019 | 92.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2018 | 89.7% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
7 earlier years
| 2017 | 88.4% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2016 | 86% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2015 | 84.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2014 | 82.5% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2013 | 80.7% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2012 | 79.4% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2011 | 79.5% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Q3s tested had between 38,608 and 63,547 miles on the clock.
At 47,120 median miles, the Q3 has 0.03 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Audi models
Common questions
What is the Audi Q3 MOT pass rate?
The Audi Q3 has a 85.7% MOT pass rate based on 197,641 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Audi Q3?
The most common MOT failure on the Audi Q3 is a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, which caused 5,329 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
How many Audi Q3s are on UK roads?
There are 163,409 Audi Q3s currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,225 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Audi Q3 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Audi Q3 is 47,120 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 38,608 and 63,547 miles.
Buying a used Q3?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.