Used car guide

2020 Audi SQ5 Vorsprung TDI Quattro Auto: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2020 Audi SQ5 Vorsprung TDI Quattro Autos, from 437 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 437 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

437MOT tests in 2025
91%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%)
8,600typical miles a year
17%had tyres flagged

What gets flagged at MOT

The share of 2020 Audi SQ5 Vorsprung TDI Quattro Auto MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    17% 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
    14% 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
    3% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Suspension
    3% 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.

  • 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.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    1% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

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.

  • Brake recalls (built 2018 to 2020)
    Built 2018 to 2020

    Recalls covered brake master cylinders (built Aug to Nov 2018), brake piston coating that could lengthen stopping distances (built Mar to May 2018) and a part causing extra pedal travel (built Jan 2020).

    At the viewing: Ask an Audi dealer to check the VIN for outstanding recalls.

    Source: What Car?: used Audi Q5 (2017 on) reliability

  • Passenger airbag and mild-hybrid recalls
    Built 2017 to 2020

    Passenger airbags on cars built June to July 2017 might not deploy properly (the fix is a new dashboard), and moisture could get into the starter-alternator on mild hybrids built June 2017 to March 2020.

    At the viewing: Ask for proof the recalls were done.

    Source: What Car?: used Audi Q5 (2017 on) reliability

  • Faults on diesels
    Diesel

    In What Car?'s survey 35% of diesels had a fault, mostly brakes, electrics and trim, and some repairs cost over £1,500.

    At the viewing: Test the electrics and look for warning lights.

    Source: What Car?: used Audi Q5 (2017 on) reliability

  • Infotainment freezing and electrical glitches
    All engines

    Owners report infotainment freezes and connection problems, faulty lights and sensors, and a few turbo and gearbox repairs.

    At the viewing: Use the screen, connect your phone, and check every light.

    Source: What Car?: used Audi Q5 (2017 on) reliability

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2019101Tyres 13%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2020 Audi SQ5 Vorsprung TDI Quattro Autos registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score