2021 Audi Q5 S Line 45 Mhev Quat Sa — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 4,453 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Audi Q5 S Line 45 Mhev Quat Sa, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 94.2% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 10.9% in the 60-90k group versus 5.0% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

4,453

MOT tests analysed

5.8%

Fail rate

better than

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 45 Mhev Quat Sa
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	3.7%	164
2	Lighting & signalling	1.2%	53
3	Visibility	0.8%	34
4	Brakes	0.7%	29
5	Body, structure & corrosion	0.6%	26
6	Emissions & environmental	0.3%	15

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 45 Mhev Quat Sa
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	108
2	Headlamp aim	40
3	Brake pads	31
4	Joints	26
5	Washers	17
6	Malfunction indicator lamp	15

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 45 Mhev Quat Sa
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	18.8%	838
2	Brakes	10.4%	465
3	Other defects	8.3%	369
4	Visibility	2.5%	109
5	Suspension	1.1%	48
6	Lighting & signalling	0.6%	27

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 45 Mhev Quat Sa
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	2,364	5.0%
30-60k	1,967	6.5%
60-90k	119	10.9%

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 45 Mhev Quat Sa
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	82	4.9%
2024	2,165	5.8%
2025	2,203	5.8%

What to check before buying a 2021 Q5 S Line 45 Mhev Quat Sa

Before buying a 2021 Audi Q5 S Line 45 Mhev Quat Sa, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.7% of tests for this year.

Tyres (3.7% 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.
Lighting & signalling (1.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2021 Audi Q5 S Line 45 Mhev Quat Sas pass their MOT?

94.2% of the 4,453 2021 Audi Q5 S Line 45 Mhev Quat Sa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.8% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Audi Q5 S Line 45 Mhev Quat Sa?

Tyres, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.2%).

Does the 2021 Q5 S Line 45 Mhev Quat Sa get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.0% in the 0-30k band to 10.9% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 4,453 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.