2017 Audi Q3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 89,065 MOT tests, the 2017 Audi Q3 recorded a 90.1% pass rate. That is 2.0 percentage points better than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 11.8%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and suspension (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and pins and bushes — tread depth alone was recorded 2,271 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.4% once past 150k — 3.3× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.3% of the time against 10.5% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 4,024 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.1% | 2,726 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 1,602 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.6% | 1,459 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 1,266 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 408 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 2,271 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,542 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,161 |
| 4 | Washers | 928 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 915 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 809 |
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 | 23.1% | 20,583 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.5% | 15,602 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.3% | 10,931 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.7% | 7,738 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 2,292 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.5% | 473 |
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 | 19,159 | 5.8% |
| 30-60k | 47,231 | 9.6% |
| 60-90k | 18,620 | 13.5% |
| 90-120k | 3,421 | 15.1% |
| 120-150k | 520 | 15.8% |
| 150k+ | 103 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 48,996 | 9.3% |
| Diesel | 40,069 | 10.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,622 | 6.9% |
| 2022 | 17,506 | 8.2% |
| 2023 | 17,825 | 10.0% |
| 2024 | 17,973 | 11.3% |
| 2025 | 18,139 | 12.7% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Q3
On a 2017 Q3, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.5% 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.
- Suspension (3.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.8% 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 2017 Audi Q3s pass their MOT?
90.1% of the 89,065 2017 Audi Q3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Audi Q3?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by suspension (3.1%).
Does the 2017 Q3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.8% in the 0-30k band to 19.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 89,065 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.