2012 Audi Q5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 27,073 MOT tests, the 2012 Audi Q5 recorded an 84.2% pass rate. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (22.3% fail rate), the 2012 Q5 comes out 6.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.1%) and body, structure & corrosion (5.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, joints and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,427 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 18.8% versus 9.6%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 13.1% fail against 16.1% for diesel, a 3.0-point gap across 27,070 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 1,662 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 1,466 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.1% | 1,108 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.8% | 1,040 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.5% | 690 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.3% | 614 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 1,427 |
| 2 | Joints | 1,393 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 940 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 639 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 545 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 377 |
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 | 24.0% | 6,495 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.7% | 5,340 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.0% | 4,321 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.8% | 3,183 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 1,536 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 1,312 |
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 | 166 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,394 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 8,337 | 14.2% |
| 90-120k | 9,641 | 16.8% |
| 120-150k | 4,674 | 18.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,834 | 18.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 24,527 | 16.1% |
| Petrol | 2,543 | 13.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,366 | 13.1% |
| 2022 | 5,489 | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 5,453 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 5,444 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 5,321 | 17.9% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Q5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (5.4% 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 (4.1% 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.
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 2012 Audi Q5s pass their MOT?
84.2% of the 27,073 2012 Audi Q5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Audi Q5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (5.4%).
Does the 2012 Q5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 18.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,073 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.