How reliable is the Audi SQ8 compared with other cars?

We do not publish a comparison for the Audi SQ8, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 91.6% across 770 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Audi SQ8?

The item recorded most often is "A tyre seriously damaged", which appears in 59.7% of failed Audi SQ8 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.

What do testers most often warn about on a Audi SQ8?

The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 22.1% of all Audi SQ8 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a Audi SQ8 usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 40,390 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Are most Audi SQ8 models petrol or diesel?

Of the Audi SQ8 cars tested, 61% are petrol, 39% are diesel. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

Model reliability file

Audi SQ8 MOT pass rate & common failures

From 770 recorded MOT tests of the Audi SQ8, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

Across 770 MOT tests, 91.6% of Audi SQ8 tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the Audi SQ8 fleet does not yet cover a wide enough spread of ages and distances to compare it fairly against other models. Its most commonly recorded failure is tyre seriously damaged, which appears in 59.7% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 40,390 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

91.6%unadjusted, not comparable770 tests

We are not publishing a ranking for the SQ8. The examples tested do not cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages to compare it fairly, and an unadjusted pass rate mostly sorts models by how recently they were bought rather than how well they were built. The failure and advisory patterns below come from the same 770 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Audi SQ8 tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.A tyre seriously damaged59.7%
37 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
2.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements22.6%
14 occurrencesTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
3.A tyre cords visible or damaged9.7%
6 occurrencesTyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
4.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen6.5%
4 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
5.Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements6.5%
4 occurrencesRegistration plate missing, insecure or illegible explained
6.Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction4.8%
3 occurrencesEngine management light on, or not working explained
7.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm4.8%
3 occurrencesBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
8.An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction3.2%
2 occurrencesAirbag warning lamp on, or airbag missing explained
9.An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning3.2%
2 occurrencesLamp not working explained
10.Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction3.2%
2 occurrencesEngine management light on, or not working explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Audi SQ8 tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements22.1%
170 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
2.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm7.8%
60 testsBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
3.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn3.8%
29 testsSuspension arm bush worn explained
4.A tyre seriously damaged3.5%
27 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
5.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured3.5%
27 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
6.Nail in tyre3.1%
24 tests
7.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements3.1%
24 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
8.A tyre seriously damaged2.3%
18 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained

What gets tested

The SQ8 fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 40,390
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol60.6%
Diesel39.0%

Trim names grouped into this model (5)

Recorded exactly as DVSA holds them. Trim-level names are rolled up so one model is not split across a dozen thin pages.

SQ8 BLACK EDITION TFSI QUAT A
SQ8 TDI MHEV QUATTRO AUTO
SQ8 TFSI QUATTRO AUTO
SQ8 VORSPRUNG TDI MHEV QUAT A
SQ8 VORSPRUNG TFSI QUATTRO A

Check a specific Audi SQ8

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other Audi models

Audi A3 — 77.8% adjusted
Audi A4 — 77.8% adjusted
Audi A1 — 73.7% adjusted
Audi Q3 — 81.5% adjusted
Audi A5 — 79.1% adjusted
Audi A6 — 82.4% adjusted
All Audi models

Common questions

How reliable is the Audi SQ8 compared with other cars?: We do not publish a comparison for the Audi SQ8, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 91.6% across 770 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Audi SQ8?: The item recorded most often is "A tyre seriously damaged", which appears in 59.7% of failed Audi SQ8 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a Audi SQ8?: The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 22.1% of all Audi SQ8 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Audi SQ8 usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 40,390 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.
Are most Audi SQ8 models petrol or diesel?: Of the Audi SQ8 cars tested, 61% are petrol, 39% are diesel. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. No adjusted rate is shown because this model's tested examples do not cover enough of the national age and mileage range for standardisation to mean anything.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.