Used car guide

2013 Audi Q3: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2013 Audi Q3s, from 11,524 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

11,524MOT tests in 2025
71%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%)
8,100typical miles a year
4.1×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2013 Audi Q3s than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Suspension arm4.1× usual
    Audi Q3
    8.2% All 2013 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.1% of all 2013 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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints1.9× usual
    Audi Q3
    4.1% All 2013 cars
    2.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.8% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Engine warning light2.1× usual
    Audi Q3
    3.4% All 2013 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 1.6% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 1.4% here, against 5.8% of all 2013 cars. Exhaust system: 0.4% here, against 4.6% of all 2013 cars.

By area

The share of 2013 Audi Q3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    33% 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
    33% 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
    25% 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
    12% 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.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    4% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Audi Q3?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
202211,517Tyres 26%
202111,304Tyres 27%
202012,639Tyres 29%
201913,922Tyres 26%
201812,618Tyres 30%
201716,028Tyres 29%
201616,311Tyres 30%
201514,099Suspension 35%
201413,672Suspension 39%
20126,614Suspension 35%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2013 Audi Q3s registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score