2013 Audi Q5 2.0L Petrol · OU13 XDB

The most recent DVSA examination on 27 October 2025 resulted in a pass, though it was carried out only three days after a prior failure on 24 October 2025, indicating that remedial work was completed between tests to address the major tyre defects. Four advisories were issued at the retest relating to front brake pads wearing thin, nearside rear inner brake pads close to limit, front brake discs worn but not excessively, and a nearside front tyre worn close to the legal limit on the edge. While a pass is reassuring, the density of advisories on the latest test suggests that the braking and tyre condition have been deteriorating through the latter part of 2025, and the maintenance trend cannot be considered stable. A closer review of the broader history shows a recurring pattern of tyre-related advisories across multiple annual tests, a previous failure for a split CV joint boot in 2023, and a windscreen washer misalignment in early 2023, which collectively point to a vehicle requiring ongoing attention to consumables and under-bonnet condition rather than a wholly trouble-free platform. With 137,804 miles recorded on a 2013 vehicle, the Q5 has averaged approximately 10,600 miles per annum over its thirteen-year life, which is broadly typical for its age and segment. The MOT chronology shows tests at roughly annual intervals from 2022 onwards with no extended absences from the road, suggesting the vehicle has been in consistent use rather than left standing. This level of use is generally beneficial for mechanical longevity because regular driving keeps seals, brakes, tyres, and drivetrain components functioning, but it does mean that wear-sensitive items such as suspension components, engine and gearbox mountings, and turbocharger consumables on the diesel or petrol power units should now be approaching the upper end of their expected service life. Given the most recent advisories, brake inspection should be a priority before purchase, with particular attention to the front pads and discs, which were both flagged as thinning or worn, and the nearside rear inner pads recorded as close to limit. On a road test, listen for any grinding or squealing from the front axle, feel for brake shudder through the steering wheel under firm application, and check for vehicle pull to one side which can indicate uneven pad wear or a binding caliper. The nearside rear inner pad advisory is worth probing specifically, as inner-edge wear on Audi rear brake systems can sometimes suggest a sticking caliper slide pin or a handbrake mechanism not fully releasing. A test drive should also include several moderate to firm stops from higher speed to confirm consistent pedal feel and to listen for any rear clonking noises from the parking brake mechanism. The disc wear advisory is described as non-excessive, but a manual check of disc lip thickness with a vernier or a visual inspection for surface scoring, corrosion pitting around the outer edge, and runout on the front wheels is advisable, ideally combined with a strip-down inspection of pad material remaining. The repeated tyre advisories, including edge wear on the nearside front in 2024 and 2025, together with the cuts recorded on the offside front and nearside rear in October 2025, suggest the Q5 may be subject to geometry or suspension issues affecting tyre life. A prospective buyer should arrange a four-wheel alignment check and inspect the front and rear suspension for worn control arm bushes, top mounts, and anti-roll bar links, as these are common wear items on a Q5 at this mileage and can manifest as uneven shoulder wear across the tread. Symptoms to listen for on test include clonking over speed humps, knocking from the front when turning into kerbs, and vague or wandering steering on the motorway. Beyond the recorded defects, age and mileage appropriate checks remain essential, including a 12V battery health test as the original unit is well beyond typical service life, inspection of all coolant, brake fluid, and transmission fluid for age-related degradation, and careful examination of the underbody and wheel arches for corrosion, particularly around the rear arches and suspension mounting points, given that Q5s of this generation can suffer from subframe and suspension arm corrosion in higher mileage or winter-driven examples. Verify the service book stamps and ideally obtain evidence of recent timing belt, water pump, and dual mass flywheel servicing where applicable, and finally check that all warning lamps extinguish promptly after engine start and that the quattro system operates without warning messages on a test drive.