2011 Audi Q3 — MOT failures & pass rate
2,966 MOT tests on the 2011 Audi Q3 are in this dataset, and 80.8% of them passed. That is 4.5 percentage points better than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 23.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 10.7% of all tests — 4.2 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 233 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.2% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.2pp more often than petrol ones (19.8% vs 17.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.7% | 316 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 190 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.6% | 136 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.7% | 109 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 73 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 72 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 233 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 101 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 99 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 68 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 55 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 52 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 24.4% | 724 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.6% | 612 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.3% | 542 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.6% | 286 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 128 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 105 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 32 | 15.6% |
| 30-60k | 408 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,082 | 17.4% |
| 90-120k | 913 | 21.5% |
| 120-150k | 408 | 21.8% |
| 150k+ | 122 | 26.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,051 | 19.8% |
| Petrol | 915 | 17.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 586 | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 589 | 17.7% |
| 2023 | 596 | 20.5% |
| 2024 | 601 | 20.6% |
| 2025 | 594 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Q3
On a 2011 Q3, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (10.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (6.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.6% 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.
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 2011 Audi Q3s pass their MOT?
80.8% of the 2,966 2011 Audi Q3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Audi Q3?
Suspension, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.4%).
Does the 2011 Q3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 0-30k band to 26.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,966 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.