2013 Audi Q3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Audi Q3 passed 82.3% of its 70,186 recorded MOT tests. Against small SUVs of a similar age (20.7% fail rate), the 2013 Q3 comes out 3.0pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.4%) and tyres (5.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and malfunction indicator lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 4,947 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.4% in the 0-30k band and 23.2% in the 150k+ band, a 13.9-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.2pp more often than petrol ones (18.2% vs 13.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.4% | 5,925 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.6% | 3,899 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 3,282 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.1% | 2,193 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 1,919 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 1,788 |
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 | 4,947 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,976 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,682 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,601 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,299 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,238 |
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 | 27.2% | 19,067 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.9% | 15,340 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.3% | 11,411 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.4% | 6,620 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 2,787 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 1,436 |
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 | 1,268 | 9.4% |
| 30-60k | 12,643 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 27,419 | 16.5% |
| 90-120k | 19,573 | 20.4% |
| 120-150k | 7,024 | 22.6% |
| 150k+ | 2,251 | 23.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 63,001 | 18.2% |
| Petrol | 7,185 | 13.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,800 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 13,752 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 14,211 | 18.5% |
| 2024 | 14,139 | 18.7% |
| 2025 | 14,284 | 20.6% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Q3
On a 2013 Q3, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.4% 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.
- Tyres (5.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2013 Audi Q3s pass their MOT?
82.3% of the 70,186 2013 Audi Q3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Audi Q3?
Suspension, recorded in 8.4% of tests, followed by tyres (5.6%).
Does the 2013 Q3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.4% in the 0-30k band to 23.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 70,186 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.