2019 Audi Q5 — MOT failures & pass rate
53,196 MOT tests on the 2019 Audi Q5 are in this dataset, and 92.8% of them passed. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (9.4% fail rate), the 2019 Q5 comes out 2.2pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.7%) and lighting & signalling (1.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 1,058 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 9.7% versus 5.5%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 6.9% of the time against 7.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 3.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.7% | 1,959 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 823 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.4% | 751 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 473 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.8% | 430 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.7% | 350 |
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 | 1,058 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 938 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 571 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 456 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 287 |
| 6 | Wipers | 281 |
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 | 19.8% | 10,541 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.4% | 7,103 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.9% | 4,724 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 1,596 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.5% | 1,359 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 362 |
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 | 17,626 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 27,869 | 7.7% |
| 60-90k | 6,795 | 9.6% |
| 90-120k | 789 | 9.4% |
| 120-150k | 103 | 9.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 40,513 | 7.3% |
| Petrol | 11,077 | 6.9% |
| Hybrid | 1,606 | 7.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 522 | 3.3% |
| 2022 | 13,429 | 6.3% |
| 2023 | 13,287 | 6.9% |
| 2024 | 13,071 | 7.6% |
| 2025 | 12,887 | 8.4% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Q5
On a 2019 Q5, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.7% 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 (1.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.4% 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.
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 2019 Audi Q5s pass their MOT?
92.8% of the 53,196 2019 Audi Q5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Audi Q5?
Tyres, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.6%).
Does the 2019 Q5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 9.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 53,196 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.