2015 Audi Q3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Audi Q3 passed 85.8% of its 82,246 recorded MOT tests. Against small SUVs of a similar age (16.5% fail rate), the 2015 Q3 comes out 2.2pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.1%) and tyres (4.8%) 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 pins and bushes — coil spring alone was recorded 3,837 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.8% once past 150k — 3.0× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.2pp more often than petrol ones (15.2% vs 12.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.1% | 5,836 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.8% | 3,970 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 1,807 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.2% | 1,794 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 1,494 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 1,306 |
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 | 3,837 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,492 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 2,404 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,023 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 971 |
| 6 | Wipers | 959 |
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 | 24.1% | 19,842 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.9% | 17,213 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.3% | 15,890 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.0% | 7,406 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 2,547 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 824 |
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 | 5,260 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 31,790 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 30,710 | 15.6% |
| 90-120k | 11,062 | 19.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,609 | 20.3% |
| 150k+ | 807 | 22.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 58,137 | 15.2% |
| Petrol | 24,109 | 12.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,045 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 16,145 | 11.9% |
| 2023 | 16,382 | 14.1% |
| 2024 | 16,674 | 15.9% |
| 2025 | 17,000 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Q3
On a 2015 Q3, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (7.1% 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 (4.8% 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 (2.2% 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 2015 Audi Q3s pass their MOT?
85.8% of the 82,246 2015 Audi Q3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Audi Q3?
Suspension, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by tyres (4.8%).
Does the 2015 Q3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 22.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 82,246 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.