2012 Audi Q5 MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 74.9% of Audi Q5s first used in 2012 passed their MOT first time, against 63.5% for all cars first used in 2012. Across 13,648 Q5 first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, body, chassis and structure and suspension.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Audi Q5s first used in 2012 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.
Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026
How the 2012 Audi Q5 MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Q5s first used in 2012 against all cars first used in 2012 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Q5 figure was 11.4 points higher.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2012 Q5 | All cars first used 2012 | Q5 first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81.0% | 68.8% | 4,705 |
| 2022 | 79.2% | 67.4% | 4,725 |
| 2023 | 76.5% | 65.6% | 4,626 |
| 2024 | 75.8% | 64.3% | 4,583 |
| 2025 | 74.9% | 63.5% | 4,439 |
Common 2012 Audi Q5 MOT failures
Share of the 3,315 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common failure items
| DVSA failure item | Share of failed first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 24.7% | 820 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | 11.8% | 391 |
| Headlamp aim: too low | 8.6% | 284 |
| Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm | 8.0% | 266 |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | 7.1% | 237 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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Typical repair costs for common MOT failures
Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Q5 in particular, and not a quote.
| Failure item | Typical job | Typical UK price | Usual range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension arm replacement | £150 | £120–£180 |
From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.
What to check on a 2012 Audi Q5 before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
- Body and underside. Worth looking underneath with a torch at the sills, floor and mountings for corrosion, and at the rubber boots on the drive shafts for splits.
- Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
Common 2012 Audi Q5 MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2012 Q5s, as a share of all 13,648 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 17.5% | 2,386 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 16.6% | 2,259 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 9.4% | 1,281 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 6.1% | 830 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | 5.6% | 760 |
Questions about the 2012 Audi Q5 MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2012 Audi Q5?
In 2025, 74.9% of Q5s first used in 2012 passed their MOT first time, against 63.5% for all cars first used in 2012. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2012 Q5 most often fail its MOT on?
Lamps and electrical equipment (in 30.9% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), body, chassis and structure (30.8%) and suspension (25.1%). The single most common item was “Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” (24.7%).
How often does a 2012 Audi Q5 fail its MOT?
In 2025, 25.1% of first tests on Q5s first used in 2012 did not pass first time: 21.3% failed, and a further 3.8% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 3,315 of 13,648 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2012 Audi Q5 MOT advisories?
“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 17.5% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (16.6%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (9.4%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (6.1%) and “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (5.6%).
Is a 2012 Audi Q5 reliable?
An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 81.0% in 2021 to 74.9% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2012
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2012 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2012 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2012 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2012 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2012 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2012 Q5?
The numbers above cover every Q5 first used in 2012 and tested in Great Britain. Our free check shows the actual MOT history, mileage record and tax status of the one you are looking at.
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