2010 Audi Q5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Audi Q5 passed 80.3% of its 22,651 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 25.3% of the time, so this is 5.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (8.4%) and suspension (8.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — joints alone was recorded 2,016 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2010 Q5 fails 19.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 22.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.3 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 16.6% fail against 20.1% for diesel, a 3.5-point gap across 22,651 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 28.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 1,909 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.1% | 1,841 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 1,676 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.5% | 792 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.9% | 658 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 618 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 2,016 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 1,440 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,293 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 754 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 557 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 532 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 28.1% | 6,370 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.7% | 5,823 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.9% | 4,279 |
| 4 | Other defects | 13.4% | 3,030 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.8% | 2,434 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 1,115 |
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 | 109 | 19.3% |
| 30-60k | 868 | 9.6% |
| 60-90k | 4,149 | 16.7% |
| 90-120k | 7,550 | 19.5% |
| 120-150k | 6,130 | 21.6% |
| 150k+ | 3,768 | 22.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 20,352 | 20.1% |
| Petrol | 2,299 | 16.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,654 | 17.8% |
| 2022 | 4,639 | 18.7% |
| 2023 | 4,597 | 19.3% |
| 2024 | 4,491 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 4,270 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Q5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: body, structure & corrosion accounted for 8.4% of tests. Start there.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.4% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (8.1% 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 (7.4% 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 2010 Audi Q5s pass their MOT?
80.3% of the 22,651 2010 Audi Q5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Audi Q5?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 8.4% of tests, followed by suspension (8.1%).
Does the 2010 Q5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.3% in the 0-30k band to 22.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,651 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.