2012 Audi Q5 MOT pass rate: 79.9% (13,542 tests)

2012-registered Audi Q5s passed 79.9% of 13,542 MOT tests in 2023–2025 — 8.7 points better than all UK cars registered in 2012 (71.2%). This is one of the strongest Q5 years in the age-adjusted MOT ranking, although the individual car still matters more.

79.9%Pass rate, 2012 cars

108.7Age-adjusted index (100 = average)

13,542Tests analysed

104,057 miMedian mileage at test

84.7% / 79.4%Petrol vs diesel pass rate

Is the 2012 Q5 getting worse?

Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:

Test year	Pass rate
2023	81.0% +8.7 vs same-age
2024	80.0% +9.0 vs same-age
2025	78.7% +8.4 vs same-age

The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.

What fails on a 2012 Q5

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Suspension	1,255	21.9%
2	Body, chassis, structure	1,166	20.3%
3	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	1,121	19.5%
4	Tyres	801	14.0%
5	Brakes	561	9.8%
6	Visibility	283	4.9%

All Q5 years compared

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2009	11,137	72.8%	+6.4 pts	127,483
2010	10,748	74.5%	+7.1 pts	120,430
2011	16,092	76.8%	+7.6 pts	113,002
2012 (this page)	13,542	79.9%	+8.7 pts	104,057
2013	18,185	82.6%	+9.3 pts	97,898
2014	25,614	84.1%	+8.2 pts	87,841
2015	31,177	85.1%	+6.4 pts	78,995
2016	33,381	86.5%	+5.2 pts	70,339
2017	29,846	84.4%	+0.3 pts	59,489
2018	38,931	89.5%	+3.1 pts	50,212
2019	34,896	91.8%	+3.4 pts	42,390
2020	20,641	93.0%	+3.0 pts	34,278

Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Audi Q5 years to avoid.

Buying a 2012 Q5? Two checks first

Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

FAQs

Is a 2012 Audi Q5 reliable?

2012-registered examples passed 79.9% of their MOT tests (13,542 tests, 2023–2025), +8.7 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 104,057 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.

What mileage is too high for a 2012 Q5?

The median tested example shows 104,057 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.

Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2012 Q5?

In this cohort petrols pass 84.7% of tests against 79.4% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.