Used car guide

2011 Audi Q3: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Audi Q3s, from 471 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 471 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

471MOT tests in 2025

70%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)

7,400typical miles a year

2.2×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Audi Q3s than on all cars registered in 2011.

Suspension arm2.2× usual

Audi Q3
7.4% All 2011 cars
3.3%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.4% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

By area

The share of 2011 Audi Q3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Suspension

36% of testsRough price £120–£400

At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
Tyres

29% of testsRough price £70–£150

At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
Brakes

21% of testsRough price £150–£350

At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
Lights and electrics

14% of testsRough price £10–£80

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
Wipers, windscreen and mirrors

8% of testsRough price £15–£250

At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
Oil and fluid leaks

3% of testsRough price £80–£600

At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Known faults

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

S tronic automatic faults
S tronic automatic
Some S tronic (DSG) gearboxes developed rough changes from internal faults. Most have been fixed by now, but a repair or replacement is very expensive.

At the viewing: Drive it for a while in traffic and check the changes are smooth in auto and manual modes.

Source: Carbuyer: used Audi Q3 (2011-2018) reliability and common problems
Blocked particulate filter (diesel)
Diesel
Diesels used mostly around town can clog the particulate filter, and fuel can get into the engine oil.

At the viewing: Ask how it’s been driven, check the oil level isn’t above the max mark, and watch for a DPF warning light.

Source: Carbuyer: used Audi Q3 (2011-2018) reliability and common problems
Running problems after the diesel emissions update
2.0 TDI diesel (early cars)
Some owners say their TDI diesel ran less well and used more fuel after the 2016 emissions software update.

At the viewing: Ask whether the update was done, and check it runs smoothly.

Source: Carbuyer: used Audi Q3 (2011-2018) reliability and common problems
Sat nav unit failure
Cars with sat nav
A few owners have had the sat nav unit fail, which cost around £2,000 to replace.

At the viewing: Make sure the sat nav starts up and works.

Source: Carbuyer: used Audi Q3 (2011-2018) reliability and common problems

Looking at an Audi Q3?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2023	454	Tyres 13%
2022	11,517	Tyres 26%
2021	11,304	Tyres 27%
2020	12,639	Tyres 29%
2019	13,922	Tyres 26%
2018	12,618	Tyres 30%
2017	16,028	Tyres 29%
2016	16,311	Tyres 30%
2015	14,099	Suspension 35%
2014	13,672	Suspension 39%
2013	11,524	Tyres 33%
2012	6,614	Tyres 35%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2011 Audi Q3s registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score