2020 Audi Q8 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,798 MOT tests, the 2020 Audi Q8 recorded a 92.6% pass rate. Against large SUVs of a similar age (9.3% fail rate), the 2020 Q8 comes out 1.9pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and emissions & environmental (1.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, registration plates and malfunction indicator lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 77 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.5% in the 0-30k band and 10.8% in the 90-120k band, a 5.3-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 125 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 42 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.1% | 31 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.0% | 29 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 20 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.5% | 15 |
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 | 77 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 46 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 40 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 27 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 13 |
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 | 18.2% | 510 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.2% | 370 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.5% | 209 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 67 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.1% | 58 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 11 |
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 | 1,000 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,482 | 8.5% |
| 60-90k | 276 | 8.3% |
| 90-120k | 37 | 10.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,312 | 7.3% |
| Petrol | 484 | 7.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 966 | 7.6% |
| 2024 | 904 | 6.3% |
| 2025 | 903 | 8.5% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Q8
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.5% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.5% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (1.1% 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 2020 Audi Q8s pass their MOT?
92.6% of the 2,798 2020 Audi Q8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi Q8?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.5%).
Does the 2020 Q8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 10.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,798 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.