2021 Audi Q5 S Line 40 Mhev Quat S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 7,387 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Audi Q5 S Line 40 Mhev Quat S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, emissions & environmental and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 91.9% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 12.9% in the 90-120k group versus 6.5% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

7,387

MOT tests analysed

8.1%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars of similar age

3.5

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2021 Audi Q5 S Line 40 Mhev Quat S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	4.1%	300
2	Emissions & environmental	2.1%	152
3	Lighting & signalling	1.6%	117
4	Brakes	1.5%	109
5	Visibility	1.3%	97
6	Seat belts & restraints	0.5%	40

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2021 Audi Q5 S Line 40 Mhev Quat S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	226
2	Malfunction indicator lamp	138
3	Brake pads	106
4	Headlamp aim	86
5	Washers	64
6	Wipers	39

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Audi Q5 S Line 40 Mhev Quat S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	19.5%	1,438
2	Brakes	12.5%	921
3	Other defects	7.1%	523
4	Visibility	2.6%	191
5	Suspension	1.5%	110
6	Lighting & signalling	0.7%	49

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2021 Q5 S Line 40 Mhev Quat S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	2,941	6.5%
30-60k	4,028	9.1%
60-90k	385	8.6%
90-120k	31	12.9%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2021 Q5 S Line 40 Mhev Quat S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	103	5.8%
2024	3,773	8.0%
2025	3,508	8.2%

What to check before buying a 2021 Q5 S Line 40 Mhev Quat S-A

Before buying a 2021 Audi Q5 S Line 40 Mhev Quat S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.1% of tests for this year.

Tyres (4.1% 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 (2.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Lighting & signalling (1.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2021 Audi Q5 S Line 40 Mhev Quat S-As pass their MOT?

91.9% of the 7,387 2021 Audi Q5 S Line 40 Mhev Quat S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.1% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Audi Q5 S Line 40 Mhev Quat S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 4.1% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (2.1%).

Does the 2021 Q5 S Line 40 Mhev Quat S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 12.9% in the 90-120k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 7,387 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.