The picture
Q3: above-average pass rates, with caveats
Across 121,503 MOT tests, the Q3 returns 84.8% first-time pass — above the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a broken or weak spring. Tyre tread under the limit and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 60,362, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
4,739 occurrences · 3.9% of tests
- 02
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
3,536 occurrences · 2.9% of tests
- 03
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
2,598 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 04
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
1,806 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 05
A tyre seriously damaged
1,779 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 06
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
1,509 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
- 07
A tyre cords visible or damaged
1,208 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 08
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
854 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 09
Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
727 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 10
Wiper blade defective
712 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£220–£575
If every one of this Q3's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Buying or keeping a Q3?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Q3 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.