2016 Audi Q2 1.6L Diesel · JA13 ADA

The most recent MOT in August 2025 at 83,756 miles passed with only a minor advisory for a loose rear exhaust heat shield, suggesting the vehicle’s core mechanical systems were deemed roadworthy at that time. However, the trend in the preceding 12 months reveals serious concerns: the August 2024 test uncovered a fractured offside front coil spring and a collapsed strut top mount, failures that would have rendered the suspension structurally compromised. These were not isolated incidents—the same engine malfunction indicator (MIL) had already caused a fail in August 2023, and the tyres were repeatedly worn to near-legal limits in both 2023 and 2024, indicating either aggressive driving or neglectful maintenance. The fact that the car passed in 2025 without these critical issues suggests they were addressed—but without further inspection, there’s no guarantee the repairs were permanent or that other latent wear hasn’t developed. The mileage accumulation of roughly 8,376 miles per year aligns with typical usage for a vehicle of this age, though the clustering of tests in August 2023 and 2024 (just five days apart in one year) hints at repeated attempts to pass the MOT after initial failures. The 11,362-mile jump between the 2023 and 2024 tests (62,429 to 71,391 miles) also suggests the car was actively used, rather than stored, during that period. The absence of any MOT records between August 2023 and August 2024 raises questions—either the vehicle was exempt (e.g., SORN’d) or the owner delayed testing despite the engine MIL warning, which is a serious oversight given its potential to indicate deeper issues like catalytic converter damage or sensor failures. For a buyer, the suspension components—particularly the offside front coil spring and strut mount—demand immediate and thorough inspection. These are high-stress parts; a fractured spring or collapsed mount can lead to sudden handling failures or tyre wear patterns. The engine MIL recurrence in both 2023 and 2024 is equally critical; while it may have been resolved, modern Audi engines often store fault codes, and unresolved issues could escalate into costly repairs. Tyres should be checked for even wear, as the 2024 advisories suggest alignment or balance problems may persist. Finally, the exhaust heat shield advisory, though minor, could mask deeper corrosion or exhaust leaks—something to verify under the vehicle. Given the history of repeated MOT failures, this car’s value hinges on whether the major faults were fully rectified with quality parts and whether the owner has maintained it since the last pass.