Audi Rs Q3 MOT pass rate & common failures
1,577 MOT tests on the Audi Rs Q3 (2014–2022) give it a 92.5% pass rate. That is 2.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.6%. Its most common failure areas are tyres, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 4.8% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, catalyst emissions and registration plates — tread depth alone was recorded 48 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 14.5% once past 60-90k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 15.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Rs Q3 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 40 | 85.0% | 15.0% | Suspension |
| 2015 | 40 | 92.5% | 7.5% | Suspension |
| 2019 | 154 | 95.5% | 4.5% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 884 | 93.2% | 6.8% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 395 | 91.9% | 8.1% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 64 | 84.4% | 15.6% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 75 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 21 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.8% | 13 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 10 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.6% | 10 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.6% | 9 |
| 7 | Suspension | 0.4% | 6 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 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 | 48 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 20 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 14 |
| 4 | Washers | 11 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 6 | Headlamp cleaning device | 7 |
| 7 | Brake pads | 6 |
| 8 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 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 | 15.5% | 244 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.1% | 96 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.6% | 89 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 37 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 14 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 9 |
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 | 897 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 593 | 6.6% |
| 60-90k | 76 | 14.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 63 | 7.9% |
| 2023 | 358 | 7.0% |
| 2024 | 539 | 7.4% |
| 2025 | 607 | 7.7% |
What to check before buying a Audi Rs Q3
- Tyres (4.8% 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 (1.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (0.8% 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.
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?
92.5% of the 1,577 Audi Rs Q3 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 7.5% fail rate, across model years 2014–2022.
What does the Audi Rs Q3 most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, then emissions & environmental (1.3%).
How much does mileage affect Rs Q3 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 14.5% for 60-90k, a 7.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,577 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.