2018 Audi Q3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 69,447 MOT tests, the 2018 Audi Q3 recorded a 91.1% pass rate. That is effectively the same as small SUVs of a similar age (9.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.4%) and lighting & signalling (1.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, catalyst emissions and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 1,607 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.7% in the 0-30k band and 18.8% in the 150k+ band, a 13.0-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.7% of the time against 9.4% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.4% | 3,057 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 1,155 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.6% | 1,114 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 1,031 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 951 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 757 |
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 | 1,607 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 1,363 |
| 3 | Washers | 741 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 670 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 661 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 587 |
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 | 22.0% | 15,300 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.2% | 10,539 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.4% | 6,518 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.8% | 4,702 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 1,695 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 271 |
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 | 25,600 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 34,218 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 8,463 | 13.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,010 | 15.2% |
| 120-150k | 121 | 16.5% |
| 150k+ | 32 | 18.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 52,016 | 8.7% |
| Diesel | 17,431 | 9.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,098 | 6.7% |
| 2022 | 13,778 | 7.2% |
| 2023 | 13,722 | 8.5% |
| 2024 | 13,755 | 10.0% |
| 2025 | 14,094 | 12.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Q3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.4% 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 (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (1.6% 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.
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 2018 Audi Q3s pass their MOT?
91.1% of the 69,447 2018 Audi Q3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Audi Q3?
Tyres, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.7%).
Does the 2018 Q3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.7% in the 0-30k band to 18.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 69,447 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.