Audi Q5
From 206,255 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Q5s fare better: 2021 models pass at 95.7% vs 77% for 2009.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements. The top issue, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, caused 4,152 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 transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 4,152 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 4,047 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 2,806 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 2,625 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 2,321 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 1,847 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,715 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 1,610 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 1,067 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 915 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 35% of Q5 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 41.5% 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 £135.
The warranty question
A new Q5 passes its MOT 93.5% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 88%, a 5.5 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 85.7%. With an average repair bill of £135 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a Q5 that's past its third birthday.
Audi Q5 on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 5,972 newly registered in the past year with 2,514 leaving, a net gain of 3,458. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 124,053 | 2,002 | +2,006 | -1,077 | +929 |
| 2025 Q2 | 123,184 | 1,942 | +1,410 | -942 | +468 |
| 2025 Q1 | 122,718 | 1,940 | +871 | -400 | +471 |
| 2024 Q4 | 122,432 | 1,755 | +1,685 | -95 | +1,590 |
| 2024 Q3 | 121,092 | 1,505 | +3,797 | -1,279 | +2,518 |
| 2024 Q2 | 118,745 | 1,334 | +1,882 | -837 | +1,045 |
| 2024 Q1 | 117,705 | 1,329 | +2,128 | -545 | +1,583 |
| 2023 Q4 | 116,244 | 1,207 | +2,216 | -107 | +2,109 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q5 S Line Tdi Quattro S-A | Diesel | 11,485 | 12% |
| Q5 S Line Plus Tdi Quattro A | Diesel | 9,693 | 10% |
| Q5 S Line + Tdi Quattro Auto | Diesel | 9,085 | 10% |
| Q5 S Line 40 Tdi Mhev Quat S-A | Diesel | 8,649 | 9% |
| Q5 S Line 45 Tfsi Mhev Quat Sa | Petrol | 7,658 | 8% |
| Q5 S Line Tfsi Quattro S-A | Petrol | 4,751 | 5% |
| Q5 S Line 40 Tdi Quattro S-A | Diesel | 4,315 | 5% |
| Q5 S Line + Tdi Quattro | Diesel | 4,209 | 4% |
| Q5 S Line 50 Tfsi E Quattro Sa | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 4,166 | 4% |
| Q5 S Line Blk Ed40 Tdi Quat Sa | Diesel | 3,162 | 3% |
| Q5 S Ln Ed1 40Tdi Mhev Quat Sa | Diesel | 3,122 | 3% |
| Q5 Sport Tdi Quattro S-A | Diesel | 3,099 | 3% |
| Q5 Sln Ed1 45Tfsi Mhev Quat Sa | Petrol | 3,016 | 3% |
| Q5 Se Tdi Quattro Auto | Diesel | 2,890 | 3% |
| Q5 Sln Blk Ed 45Tfsi Mhev Q Sa | Petrol | 2,615 | 3% |
| Q5 Sport 40 Tdi Mhev Quat S-A | Diesel | 2,583 | 3% |
| Q5 S Ln Blk Ed 40Tdi Mhev Q Sa | Diesel | 2,515 | 3% |
| Q5 S Line Tdi Quattro Auto | Diesel | 2,454 | 3% |
| Q5 S Line 45 Tfsi Quattro S-A | Petrol | 2,156 | 2% |
| Q5 Se Tdi Quattro | Diesel | 1,976 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 95.7% | a stop lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp, lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2020 | 93.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2019 | 92.1% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2018 | 90.7% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
10 earlier years
| 2017 | 87% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2016 | 88% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2015 | 86.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2014 | 86.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2013 | 85.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2012 | 82.5% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2011 | 79.7% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2010 | 79% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2009 | 77% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2008 | 79.7% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
Typical mileage
Half of all Q5s tested had between 71,223 and 100,135 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 84,523 median miles, the Q5 has 0.015 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Audi models
Common questions
What is the Audi Q5 MOT pass rate?
The Audi Q5 has a 87.2% MOT pass rate based on 206,255 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Audi Q5?
The most common MOT failure on the Audi Q5 is a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, which caused 4,152 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Audi Q5s are on UK roads?
There are 124,053 Audi Q5s currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,002 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Audi Q5 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Audi Q5 is 84,523 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 71,223 and 100,135 miles.
Buying a used Q5?
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.