Audi Rs Q3 Ed Sa MOT pass rate & common failures
1,938 MOT tests on the Audi Rs Q3 Ed Sa (2020–2023) give it a 92.6% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 8.8% of the time, so this is 1.4pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are tyres, other defects and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests against 1.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, registration plates and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 50 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 10.9% once past 60-90k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.3% of tests failed in 2023 against 8.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Rs Q3 Ed Sa model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 717 | 92.8% | 7.2% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 751 | 93.5% | 6.5% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 457 | 91.3% | 8.8% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 88 |
| 2 | Other defects | 1.1% | 22 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 22 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.1% | 21 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.8% | 15 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 13 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 3 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 2 |
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 | 50 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 35 |
| 3 | Washers | 19 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 18 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 14 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 7 | Headlamp cleaning device | 6 |
| 8 | Wipers | 4 |
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 | 16.4% | 318 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.1% | 118 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.4% | 104 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 56 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.3% | 6 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 5 |
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 | 1,177 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 703 | 9.0% |
| 60-90k | 55 | 10.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 254 | 6.3% |
| 2024 | 611 | 6.2% |
| 2025 | 1,066 | 8.3% |
What to check before buying a Audi Rs Q3 Ed Sa
- 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.
- Other defects (1.1% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
- Emissions & environmental (1.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Audi Rs Q3 Ed Sa?
92.6% of the 1,938 Audi Rs Q3 Ed Sa MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 7.4% fail rate, across model years 2020–2023.
What does the Audi Rs Q3 Ed Sa most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, then other defects (1.1%).
How much does mileage affect Rs Q3 Ed Sa MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 10.9% for 60-90k, a 4.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,938 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.