The picture
Q5: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 110,985 MOT tests, the Q5 returns 85.2% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen damage. A missing CV-joint boot and a split CV-joint boot round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 68,992, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
3,127 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
- 02
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
3,058 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
- 03
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
2,666 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
- 04
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
2,356 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 05
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
1,849 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 06
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
1,805 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 07
A tyre seriously damaged
1,657 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 08
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
1,586 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 09
A tyre cords visible or damaged
921 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 10
Wiper blade defective
889 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£140–£335
If every one of this Q5's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Buying or keeping a Q5?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Q5 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.