2021 Audi Q3 35 S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 1,162 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Audi Q3 35 S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, brakes and visibility. Its pass rate of 91.5% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.3%).

Pass rate

1,162

MOT tests analysed

8.5%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars of similar age

3.4

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2021 Audi Q3 35 S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	5.3%	61
2	Brakes	1.6%	19
3	Visibility	1.6%	18
4	Emissions & environmental	0.9%	10
5	Lighting & signalling	0.8%	9
6	Suspension	0.4%	5

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2021 Audi Q3 35 S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	21
2	Brake pads	17
3	Washers	12
4	Malfunction indicator lamp	10
5	Headlamp aim	9
6	Registration plates	5

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Audi Q3 35 S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	21.0%	244
2	Brakes	17.0%	198
3	Other defects	7.1%	82
4	Visibility	5.0%	58
5	Suspension	2.5%	29
6	Lighting & signalling	0.9%	10

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2021 Q3 35 S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	510	7.4%
30-60k	556	9.3%
60-90k	88	9.1%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2021 Q3 35 S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2024	582	8.6%
2025	550	8.4%

What to check before buying a 2021 Q3 35 S-A

Before buying a 2021 Audi Q3 35 S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.3% of tests for this year.

Tyres (5.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Brakes (1.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Visibility (1.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.

Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.

Frequently asked questions

How many 2021 Audi Q3 35 S-As pass their MOT?

91.5% of the 1,162 2021 Audi Q3 35 S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.5% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Audi Q3 35 S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by brakes (1.6%).

Does the 2021 Q3 35 S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 9.1% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 1,162 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.