2011 Audi Q5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 33,095 MOT tests, the 2011 Audi Q5 recorded an 82.0% pass rate. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (24.0% fail rate), the 2011 Q5 comes out 6.0pp better. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (7.7%) and lighting & signalling (6.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — joints alone was recorded 2,644 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.9% versus 7.6%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.3pp more often than petrol ones (18.3% vs 15.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 2,559 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 2,211 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.6% | 1,851 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.7% | 1,223 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 885 |
| 6 | Brakes | 2.5% | 811 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 2,644 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,757 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,613 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 842 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 637 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 552 |
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 | 25.0% | 8,264 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.3% | 8,052 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.9% | 5,587 |
| 4 | Other defects | 14.1% | 4,659 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 3,236 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 1,542 |
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 | 197 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,911 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 7,855 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 11,668 | 18.9% |
| 120-150k | 7,718 | 19.8% |
| 150k+ | 3,702 | 20.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 29,827 | 18.3% |
| Petrol | 3,268 | 15.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,671 | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 6,708 | 17.3% |
| 2023 | 6,751 | 18.7% |
| 2024 | 6,571 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 6,394 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Q5
On a 2011 Q5, body, structure & corrosion is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.7% 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+.
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.6% 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 2011 Audi Q5s pass their MOT?
82.0% of the 33,095 2011 Audi Q5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Audi Q5?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.7%).
Does the 2011 Q5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 20.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 33,095 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.