Used car guide

2020 Audi Q5: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2020 Audi Q5s, from 8,777 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

8,777MOT tests in 2025
91%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%)
8,800typical miles a year
29×the usual rate for coil springs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2020 Audi Q5s than on all cars registered in 2020.

  • Coil springs29× usual
    Audi Q5
    2.9% All 2020 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

By area

The share of 2020 Audi Q5 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    23% 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
    13% 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.

  • Suspension
    6% 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.

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

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% 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
    3% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20229,579Tyres 21%
202111,441Tyres 22%
201911,980Tyres 24%
201813,079Tyres 23%
20179,966Tyres 24%
201611,167Tyres 27%
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 2020 Audi Q5s registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score