Audi Q3 common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Audi Q3 at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 119,862 UK MOT tests of the Audi Q3 in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is suspension arm (corroded but not seriously weakened): recorded on 5.2% of tests of 2015–2017 cars at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km), 26× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: pins and bushes (pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement) (3.3×); shock absorbers (light misting of oil) (3×); pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) (4.3×). The most common reasons a Audi Q3 fails its MOT are coil spring (fractured or broken); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm); tyres (a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Audi Q3
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Audi Q3 than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened | Advisory | 2015–2017 | 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 5.2% | 0.2% | 26× | 463 |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | Advisory | 2017–2019 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 5.3% | 1.6% | 3.3× | 12,999 |
| Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil | Advisory | 2019–2021 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 3.3% | 1.1% | 3× | 15,229 |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | MOT fail | 2014–2016 | 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 6.9% | 1.6% | 4.3× | 317 |
| Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | Advisory | 2020–2022 | 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 10% | 3.5% | 2.9× | 5,507 |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | MOT fail | 2011–2013 | 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 6% | 1.6% | 3.8× | 635 |
| Linkage ball joints: ball joint has slight play | Advisory | 2013–2015 | 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 7.8% | 2% | 3.9× | 322 |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | MOT fail | 2016–2018 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 3.9% | 1.6% | 2.4× | 7,886 |
Audi Q3 by mileage (2018–2020 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 9,629 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (13%) | Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (6.7%, 2.2×) |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 21,253 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (14%) | Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (10%, 1.7×) |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 7,206 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (15%) | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil (3.8%, 2.1×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 1,362 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (17%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (4.7%, 3.4×) |
Audi Q3 by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 486 | Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction at 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) (3.9×) |
| 2012 | 6,731 | Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction at 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) (3.8×) |
| 2013 | 11,694 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) (6.4×) |
| 2014 | 13,842 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (9.7×) |
| 2015 | 14,192 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (18×) |
| 2016 | 16,584 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (26×) |
| 2017 | 16,123 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (3×) |
| 2018 | 12,630 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (3.3×) |
| 2019 | 14,211 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (3.4×) |
| 2020 | 12,916 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (3.2×) |
| 2021 | 443 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (3.5×) |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Audi Q3?
In 119,862 UK MOT tests of the Audi Q3 in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is suspension arm (corroded but not seriously weakened): recorded on 5.2% of tests of 2015–2017 cars at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km), 26× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: pins and bushes (pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement) (3.3×); shock absorbers (light misting of oil) (3×); pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) (4.3×). The most common reasons a Audi Q3 fails its MOT are coil spring (fractured or broken); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm); tyres (a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords).
Why do Audi Q3s fail the MOT?
Across 119,862 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Audi Q3 were coil spring (fractured or broken) (5.5% of tests); tyres (tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm) (3.9% of tests); tyres (a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords) (2.3% of tests).
At what mileage do Audi Q3 problems start?
The clearest Audi Q3-specific issue, suspension arm (corroded but not seriously weakened), peaks against other cars at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) on 2015–2017 cars (5.2% of tests vs 0.2% for all cars that age).
Where does this Audi Q3 data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 119,862 tests of the Audi Q3. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.