2020 Audi Rs Q3 Ed Sa — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 717 MOT tests, the 2020 Audi Rs Q3 Ed Sa recorded a 92.8% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 9.3% of the time, so this is 2.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, emissions & environmental and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.8%) and emissions & environmental (1.8%) 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 catalyst emissions — tread depth alone was recorded 18 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.8% | 27 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 13 |
| 3 | Other defects | 1.4% | 10 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.0% | 7 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.0% | 7 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 3 |
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 | 18 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 18 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 11 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 7 |
| 5 | Washers | 7 |
| 6 | Emissions not tested | 3 |
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 | 17.8% | 128 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.7% | 48 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.9% | 35 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.1% | 15 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.3% | 2 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.1% | 1 |
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 | 388 | 4.6% |
| 30-60k | 301 | 10.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 239 | 6.7% |
| 2024 | 239 | 6.7% |
| 2025 | 234 | 8.1% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Rs Q3 Ed Sa
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.8% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Other defects (1.4% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
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 Rs Q3 Ed Sas pass their MOT?
92.8% of the 717 2020 Audi Rs Q3 Ed Sa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi Rs Q3 Ed Sa?
Tyres, recorded in 3.8% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.8%).
Does the 2020 Rs Q3 Ed Sa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.6% in the 0-30k band to 10.0% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 717 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.