2016 Audi Q3 — MOT failures & pass rate
93,712 MOT tests on the 2016 Audi Q3 are in this dataset, and 87.7% of them passed. That is 1.8 percentage points better than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 14.1%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.2%) and tyres (5.0%) 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 3,713 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.7% versus 7.1%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 10.5% fail against 13.0% for diesel, a 2.5-point gap across 93,708 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.2% | 4,861 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.0% | 4,714 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 1,742 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.8% | 1,733 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 1,307 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 776 |
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 | 3,713 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,648 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,516 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,121 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,014 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 864 |
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 | 24.0% | 22,499 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.5% | 17,343 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.5% | 13,625 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.0% | 8,423 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 2,541 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 893 |
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 | 10,202 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 44,987 | 10.6% |
| 60-90k | 29,136 | 15.0% |
| 90-120k | 7,525 | 17.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,484 | 19.4% |
| 150k+ | 372 | 20.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 68,788 | 13.0% |
| Petrol | 24,920 | 10.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,273 | 8.8% |
| 2022 | 18,465 | 10.3% |
| 2023 | 18,882 | 12.9% |
| 2024 | 18,972 | 13.9% |
| 2025 | 19,120 | 15.7% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Q3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 5.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (5.2% 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 (5.0% 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 (1.9% 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 2016 Audi Q3s pass their MOT?
87.7% of the 93,712 2016 Audi Q3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Audi Q3?
Suspension, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by tyres (5.0%).
Does the 2016 Q3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 20.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 93,712 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.