2023 Audi Q3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2023 Audi Q3 passed 96.9% of its 478 recorded MOT tests. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 5.1% of the time, so this is 1.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (1.9%) and brakes (0.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 6 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 9.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 1.9% | 9 |
| 2 | Brakes | 0.8% | 4 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 4 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.6% | 3 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 1 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.2% | 1 |
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 | 6 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 4 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 4 |
| 4 | Wipers | 2 |
| 5 | Washers | 2 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 1 |
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 | 9.8% | 47 |
| 2 | Other defects | 3.8% | 18 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.4% | 16 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 8 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 5 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.2% | 1 |
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 | 365 | 2.7% |
| 30-60k | 102 | 2.9% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 364 | 2.5% |
| Diesel | 58 | 1.7% |
| Hybrid | 56 | 8.9% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Q3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 1.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (1.9% 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 (0.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (0.8% 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 2023 Audi Q3s pass their MOT?
96.9% of the 478 2023 Audi Q3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 3.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Audi Q3?
Tyres, recorded in 1.9% of tests, followed by brakes (0.8%).
Does the 2023 Q3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.7% in the 0-30k band to 2.9% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 478 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.