2017 Audi Q5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 58,025 MOT tests, the 2017 Audi Q5 recorded an 87.0% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 11.8% of the time, so this is 1.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 6.8% of all tests — 3.0 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and brake pads — coil spring alone was recorded 3,923 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2017 Q5 fails 10.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 13.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.6 points.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.5pp more often than petrol ones (13.5% vs 11.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.8% | 3,952 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.8% | 2,201 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 964 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.6% | 917 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 781 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 690 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 3,923 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,470 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 956 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 694 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 667 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 600 |
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 | 19.5% | 11,308 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.6% | 8,455 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.1% | 5,289 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.5% | 4,373 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,923 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 522 |
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 | 8,477 | 10.3% |
| 30-60k | 29,440 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 15,754 | 14.1% |
| 90-120k | 3,613 | 14.8% |
| 120-150k | 594 | 15.0% |
| 150k+ | 144 | 13.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 41,235 | 13.5% |
| Petrol | 16,790 | 11.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,797 | 11.8% |
| 2022 | 11,650 | 12.3% |
| 2023 | 11,694 | 13.7% |
| 2024 | 11,517 | 13.9% |
| 2025 | 11,367 | 13.6% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Q5
On a 2017 Q5, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (6.8% 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.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.7% 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 2017 Audi Q5s pass their MOT?
87.0% of the 58,025 2017 Audi Q5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Audi Q5?
Suspension, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by tyres (3.8%).
Does the 2017 Q5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 0-30k band to 13.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 58,025 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.