2021 Audi Q8 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Audi Q8 passed 92.8% of its 2,222 recorded MOT tests. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 8.9% of the time, so this is 1.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 5.0% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, registration plates and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 51 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 Q8 fails 6.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.9% at 60-90k, a spread of only 2.1 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 6.3% of the time against 7.6% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 8.6% in 2023 to 7.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.0% | 112 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.2% | 27 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 19 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.8% | 18 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.6% | 14 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 9 |
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 | 51 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 31 |
| 3 | Washers | 18 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 9 |
| 6 | Wipers | 8 |
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 | 18.9% | 419 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.3% | 250 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.6% | 168 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 60 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 24 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 6 |
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 | 783 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,255 | 7.3% |
| 60-90k | 169 | 8.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,428 | 7.6% |
| Petrol | 553 | 6.3% |
| Hybrid | 241 | 7.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 35 | 8.6% |
| 2024 | 1,106 | 7.3% |
| 2025 | 1,079 | 7.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Q8
On a 2021 Q8, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.0% 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.
- Visibility (1.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (0.9% 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 2021 Audi Q8s pass their MOT?
92.8% of the 2,222 2021 Audi Q8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Audi Q8?
Tyres, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by visibility (1.2%).
Does the 2021 Q8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 8.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,222 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.