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Audi Q3 reliability

A · Excellent

MOT pass rates and common problems from 901,249 MOT tests of cars first registered 2011–2023.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
84.7%pass first time
+6.3 ptsvs typical car
Beats 91%of cars
901,249MOT tests

Verdict

The Audi Q3 passes its MOT first time on 84.7% of tests, 6.3 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (78.4%). That puts it ahead of 91% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2019 Q3 does best (beats 97% of cars) and the 2016 worst (beats 88%).

Of its engines, the 2.0 Petrol does best (beats 97%) and the 2.0 Diesel worst (beats 88%).

Better than average on lights & electrics, brakes, visibility.

Watch these weak spots

Coil springs1.8×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

50%60%70%80%90%100%3456789101112131491%89%85%79%73%70%
Audi Q3Typical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2011
Beats 93%
2012
Beats 88%
2013
Beats 90%
2014
Beats 90%
2015
Beats 88%
2016
Beats 88%
2017
Beats 92%
2018
Beats 88%
2019
Beats 97%
2020
Beats 97%
2021
Beats 92%
2022
Beats 95%
2023
Beats 91%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel2011–2022527,27181.9%Beats 88%A
1.4 Petrol2014–2018154,65487.0%Beats 90%A
2.0 Petrol2011–2022108,65288.4%Beats 97%A
1.5 Petrol2019–202399,67491.6%Beats 96%A
2.5 Petrol2014–20167,70788.0%Beats 99%A
1.4 Hybrid2021–20223,29191.0%Beats 94%A

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 1.2% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 4.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 2.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 5.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 2.2% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 2.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+4.2 ptsTyres: 5.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+0.7 ptsBrakes: 2.2% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+2.1 ptsSuspension: 4.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension0.0 ptsExhaust: 1.2% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.4 ptsSuspension: 4.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 2.2% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 5.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 2.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 1.2% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 2.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+4.2 ptsTyres: 5.3% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+0.7 ptsBrakes: 2.2% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+2.1 ptsSuspension: 4.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension0.0 ptsExhaust: 1.2% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.4 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Suspension: 4.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Tyres
5.3% vs 6.1%
Suspension
4.9% vs 4.8%
Lights & electrics
2.7% vs 6.9%
Brakes
2.2% vs 4.3%
Visibility
1.9% vs 3.8%
Emissions & leaks
1.2% vs 1.6%
Body & structure
0.5% vs 1.5%
Seat belts & airbags
0.4% vs 0.5%
Steering
0.1% vs 1.0%
Wheels
0.1% vs 0.3%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Coil springs 1.8× typical
    Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Tyre tread depth
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
  • Brake pads
    Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Windscreen washers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

50%60%70%80%90%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k150k96%92%87%82%77%73%69%68%
Audi Q3Typical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking3.0%3.4%0.9×
Coil springs2.9%1.6%1.8×
Tyre tread depth2.2%2.3%1.0×
Brake pads1.2%2.0%0.6×
Headlight aim1.1%2.2%0.5×
Windscreen washers1.1%1.6%0.7×
Engine warning light0.9%0.9%1.0×
Suspension arm bushes0.9%0.7%1.4×
Windscreen wipers0.8%2.0%0.4×
Brake discs0.5%0.6%0.8×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened29.2
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements21.9
A tyre seriously damaged19.4
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn12.6
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm11.2
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements10.6
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen10.6
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction9.3
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2023 Audi Q31 engine92.0% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol3,95792.0%Beats 91%A
2022 Audi Q34 engines92.3% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol13,78192.4%Beats 94%A
2.0 Diesel2,49091.1%Beats 92%A
2.0 Petrol2,40494.4%Beats 99%A
1.4 Hybrid1,97790.6%Beats 92%A
2021 Audi Q34 engines91.1% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol21,62891.1%Beats 91%A
2.0 Diesel7,03490.3%Beats 91%A
2.0 Petrol2,03293.6%Beats 99%A
1.4 Hybrid1,31491.6%Beats 95%A
2020 Audi Q33 engines91.8% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol27,01092.1%Beats 97%A
2.0 Petrol11,02792.7%Beats 98%A
2.0 Diesel10,73590.3%Beats 94%A
2019 Audi Q33 engines91.3% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol33,29891.3%Beats 97%A
2.0 Petrol17,46792.1%Beats 98%A
2.0 Diesel17,21490.6%Beats 97%A
2018 Audi Q33 engines88.1% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.4 Petrol45,74888.0%Beats 85%A
2.0 Diesel18,52087.6%Beats 91%A
2.0 Petrol9,95889.5%Beats 95%A
2017 Audi Q33 engines87.5% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel49,34386.6%Beats 91%A
1.4 Petrol45,97787.8%Beats 90%A
2.0 Petrol14,77389.3%Beats 95%A
2016 Audi Q34 engines85.2% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel95,21884.3%Beats 86%A
1.4 Petrol25,02086.9%Beats 91%A
2.0 Petrol8,23488.8%Beats 97%A
2.5 Petrol1,90890.1%Beats 99%A
2015 Audi Q34 engines83.6% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel88,30982.5%Beats 86%A
1.4 Petrol24,72385.1%Beats 89%A
2.0 Petrol10,23388.0%Beats 97%A
2.5 Petrol2,67288.8%Beats 99%A
2014 Audi Q34 engines81.1% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel95,25679.9%Beats 86%A
1.4 Petrol13,18684.8%Beats 96%A
2.0 Petrol9,94586.8%Beats 98%A
2.5 Petrol3,12786.2%Beats 98%A
2013 Audi Q32 engines78.4% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel91,89377.7%Beats 88%A
2.0 Petrol10,88784.2%Beats 98%A
2012 Audi Q32 engines75.8% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel48,34275.0%Beats 87%A
2.0 Petrol10,39379.8%Beats 95%A
2011 Audi Q32 engines76.5% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
2.0 Diesel2,91775.4%Beats 92%A
2.0 Petrol1,29979.1%Beats 96%A

FAQ

What is the Audi Q3 MOT pass rate?

84.7% of MOT tests on the Audi Q3 were passed first time, based on 901,249 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2011–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 78.4% of the time.

Is the Audi Q3 reliable?

On MOT results it rates A (excellent): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 91% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Audi Q3 year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2019 Q3 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 97% of cars on UK roads. The 2016 does worst: it beats 88%.

Which Audi Q3 engine is best?

Across all years, the 2.0 Petrol does best: it beats 97% of cars on UK roads. The 2.0 Diesel does worst: it beats 88%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Audi Q3?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, coil springs, tyre tread depth. Compared with similar cars, coil springs comes up 1.8× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.