2011 Audi Q5 2.0L Diesel · FT60 HXU

The 2011 Audi Q5 passed its most recent MOT on 10 January 2026 at 170,986 miles, but the record reveals a maintenance pattern that is stable at best and quietly deteriorating in key areas. Four advisories were carried into the current certificate, including a persistent oil leak flagged repeatedly since at least January 2024, a defective rear exhaust mounting, and a severely deteriorated offside front outer CV joint boot. The January 2025 failure showed the same CV boot had progressed from "severely deteriorated" to "split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt," indicating the joint has been left exposed to contamination for at least a year. Suspension bush wear has been a recurring theme across both front upper and lower arms since 2024, and while none have yet triggered a failure, the cumulative pattern suggests front-end compliance bushes are approaching the end of their service life. Mileage accumulation sits at roughly 11,400 miles per year, which is typical for a vehicle of this age. The record shows steady annual testing with no alarming gaps, and the 2,472-mile increase between the January 2025 tests and the January 2026 pass is consistent with normal use. There are no signs of the vehicle having been stood idle for extended periods, nor any sudden spikes in accumulation that would indicate high-intensity motorway use without proportional servicing. The annual test-on-test mileage gain is unremarkable, but the persistence of the same advisories year after year suggests the owner has been managing the car on a pass-and-advise basis rather than addressing underlying faults proactively. A buyer should pay close attention to the front suspension and drivetrain. The repeated upper and lower suspension arm bush wear across both sides points to a car that may need a full front-end bush refresh or arm replacement in the near term. The split offside front CV boot means the joint has been ingesting dirt and moisture for over a year, so expect accelerated play and clicking on lock. Inspect the inner wing arches and sills for corrosion, particularly around the rear subframe mounting points, as the defective rear exhaust mounting could indicate broader underbody deterioration. The oil leak, while consistently deemed not excessive, has appeared in every recorded test since 2024 and warrants identification of its source, whether that is a rocker cover gasket, oil cooler seal, or turbo feed line. Brake pads were noted as worn low in the 2024 failure, so verify the condition of both pads and discs at all four corners. Finally, check the condition of all four tyres for uneven wear, which would confirm the suspension geometry issues implied by the recurring bush advisories.