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Audi Q5 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Audi Q5 car check

Is the Audi Q5 reliable? We analysed 932,637 real MOT tests across 109,587 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 932,637 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.5%
Typical Mileage
60,431mi
Annual Mileage
7,701mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
17yrs

The Audi Q5 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Audi Q5.

Audi Q5 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Audi Q5. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Audi Q5 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Audi Q5 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

91.3%
2023
92.4%
2022
90.4%
2021
92.1%
2020
91.3%
2019
89.7%
2018
86.6%
2017
88.7%
2016
87.7%
2015
86.8%
2014
86.2%
2013
84.8%
2012
83.8%
2011
82.8%
2010
81%
2009
80.1%
2008

Audi Q5 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Audi Q5 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 12,947
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 3,166

Audi Q5 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Audi Q5 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,238 mi/yr
Typical
7,701 mi/yr
Average
8,653 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,783 mi/yr

Audi Q5 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Audi Q5 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2023 184 91.3% 22,879 29,493 45,204
2022 397 92.4% 22,558 32,184 43,232
2021 385 90.4% 23,759 35,293 48,727
2020 26,361 92.1% 25,804 35,794 47,969
2019 58,078 91.3% 27,262 38,922 53,415
2018 82,778 89.7% 29,150 42,396 58,992
2017 80,002 86.6% 32,801 47,855 66,343
2016 98,298 88.7% 37,801 54,867 75,400
2015 105,924 87.7% 40,850 59,955 82,436
2014 98,523 86.8% 44,347 65,219 89,394
2013 78,799 86.2% 48,268 71,452 97,680
2012 66,246 84.8% 49,710 74,808 101,998
2011 86,446 83.8% 53,002 80,702 110,154
2010 64,618 82.8% 56,122 85,529 116,271
2009 75,234 81.0% 58,748 89,072 120,655
2008 4,025 80.1% 57,237 87,928 118,928

How Long Does a Audi Q5 Last?

Based on 109,587 Audi Q5 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
8.9 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
17 years

Audi Q5 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Audi Q5 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
60,431 mi
75th Percentile
88,624 mi
95th Percentile
136,585 mi
Max Recorded
1,487,258 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Audi Q5

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2022

92.4% MOT pass rate from 397 tests

Year to avoid
2008

80.1% MOT pass rate from 4,025 tests

The best year to buy a used Audi Q5 is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.4% across 397 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Audi Q5 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Audi Q5 THIS CAR 86.5% 932,637 60,431 mi 17 yrs
Audi A3 78% 7,415,025 78,776 mi 29 yrs
Audi A4 76.1% 7,096,957 96,834 mi 31 yrs
Audi A6 78.4% 2,724,792 98,890 mi 31 yrs
Mini One 83.8% 528,090 42,930 mi 22 yrs

Compared to the Audi A3 (78.0% pass rate) and the Audi A4 (76.1% pass rate), the Audi Q5 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Audi Q5 you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used Audi Q5?

The Audi Q5 has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.5% across 932,637 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Audi Q5 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Audi Q5 owner drives around 7,701 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Audi Q5 models stay on UK roads for around 17 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Audi Q5 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Audi Q5 reliable?
Based on 932,637 MOT tests, the Audi Q5 has a 86.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Audi Q5?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Audi Q5 do per year?
The typical Audi Q5 does around 7,701 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Audi Q5 last?
Most Audi Q5 models stay on UK roads for around 17 years based on our analysis of 109,587 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Audi Q5?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Audi Q5?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Audi Q5 is 2022 with a 92.4% pass rate across 397 tests.