2010 BMW X1 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 BMW X1 passed 80.2% of its 29,807 recorded MOT tests. Against small SUVs of a similar age (24.7% fail rate), the 2010 X1 comes out 4.9pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.4%) and lighting & signalling (7.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, tread depth and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 1,841 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.1% in the 0-30k band and 23.1% in the 150k+ band, a 15.0-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.4% | 2,220 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 2,190 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.9% | 2,044 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.9% | 1,775 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 1,166 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 645 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 1,841 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,305 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,216 |
| 4 | Washers | 880 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 742 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 657 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 27.1% | 8,079 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.6% | 6,734 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.4% | 6,664 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.8% | 2,929 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 1,589 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.0% | 1,490 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 197 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,008 | 12.6% |
| 60-90k | 7,558 | 17.6% |
| 90-120k | 10,568 | 20.6% |
| 120-150k | 6,525 | 22.3% |
| 150k+ | 2,944 | 23.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 29,619 | 19.9% |
| Petrol | 188 | 14.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,260 | 17.9% |
| 2022 | 6,216 | 19.1% |
| 2023 | 6,082 | 20.4% |
| 2024 | 5,781 | 20.5% |
| 2025 | 5,468 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 2010 X1
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2010 BMW X1s pass their MOT?
80.2% of the 29,807 2010 BMW X1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 BMW X1?
Suspension, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.3%).
Does the 2010 X1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 23.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 29,807 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.