2020 Audi Q3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 40,989 MOT tests, the 2020 Audi Q3 recorded a 93.6% pass rate. That is 1.5 percentage points better than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 7.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.8%) and brakes (1.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 727 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 10.3% once past 90-120k — 2.1× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.7pp more often than petrol ones (7.7% vs 6.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 2.5% of tests failed in 2022 against 7.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.8% | 1,569 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.8% | 720 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.2% | 505 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 251 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.2% | 93 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 68 |
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 | 727 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 583 |
| 3 | Washers | 424 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 251 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 237 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 145 |
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 | 24.2% | 9,906 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.6% | 6,783 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.2% | 3,345 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.4% | 1,821 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 1,070 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.2% | 69 |
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 | 21,563 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 17,633 | 8.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,628 | 8.7% |
| 90-120k | 146 | 10.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 31,708 | 6.0% |
| Diesel | 9,211 | 7.7% |
| Hybrid | 68 | 7.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 485 | 2.5% |
| 2023 | 13,675 | 5.9% |
| 2024 | 13,361 | 6.3% |
| 2025 | 13,458 | 7.2% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Q3
On a 2020 Q3, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.8% 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.
- Brakes (1.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Visibility (1.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2020 Audi Q3s pass their MOT?
93.6% of the 40,989 2020 Audi Q3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi Q3?
Tyres, recorded in 3.8% of tests, followed by brakes (1.8%).
Does the 2020 Q3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 10.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 40,989 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.