Used car guide

2016 Audi Q5: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Audi Q5s, from 11,167 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

11,167MOT tests in 2025
83%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
8,800typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Audi Q5s than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.5× usual
    Audi Q5
    15.1% All 2016 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 1.1% of all 2016 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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.2× usual
    Audi Q5
    4.1% All 2016 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 1.1% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

Better than most

Coil springs: 0.3% here, against 4.1% of all 2016 cars. Shock absorbers: 1.8% here, against 4.3% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Audi Q5 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    27% 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.

  • Suspension
    19% 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.

  • Brakes
    17% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Lights and electrics
    5% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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 Q5?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20229,579Tyres 21%
202111,441Tyres 22%
20208,777Tyres 23%
201911,980Tyres 24%
201813,079Tyres 23%
20179,966Tyres 24%
201510,383Tyres 27%
20148,541Tyres 28%
20136,001Suspension 30%
20124,436Suspension 32%
20115,266Suspension 37%
20103,453Suspension 43%
20093,548Suspension 45%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 Audi Q5s registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score