2020 Audi Rs Q3 — MOT failures & pass rate
884 MOT tests on the 2020 Audi Rs Q3 are in this dataset, and 93.2% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 9.3% of the time, so this is 2.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 5.0% of all tests — 3.5 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 headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 32 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 15.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 6.2% in 2023 to 4.6% 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% | 44 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 13 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.8% | 7 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 7 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.4% | 4 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.1% | 1 |
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 | 32 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 11 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 7 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 6 |
| 5 | Washers | 5 |
| 6 | Headlamp cleaning device | 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% | 137 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.9% | 61 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.1% | 45 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 21 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 2 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.2% | 2 |
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 | 483 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 377 | 7.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 289 | 6.2% |
| 2024 | 300 | 9.0% |
| 2025 | 282 | 4.6% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Rs Q3
On a 2020 Rs Q3, 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.
- 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.
- 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
How many 2020 Audi Rs Q3s pass their MOT?
93.2% of the 884 2020 Audi Rs Q3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi Rs Q3?
Tyres, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.5%).
Does the 2020 Rs Q3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 7.2% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 884 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.