2014 BMW X1 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 46,865 MOT tests, the 2014 BMW X1 recorded an 82.8% pass rate. Against small SUVs of a similar age (18.6% fail rate), the 2014 X1 comes out 1.4pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (7.3%) and suspension (5.5%) 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 washers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 3,042 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.5% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 13.5% fail against 17.3% for diesel, a 3.8-point gap across 46,865 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.3% | 3,415 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.5% | 2,579 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 2,467 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.8% | 1,782 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 1,396 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 526 |
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 | 3,042 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,737 |
| 3 | Washers | 1,171 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,059 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 976 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 704 |
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 | 26.1% | 12,212 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.0% | 8,925 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.8% | 5,975 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.8% | 4,104 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 1,865 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 975 |
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 | 1,536 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 13,402 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 19,163 | 17.6% |
| 90-120k | 9,358 | 20.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,688 | 21.4% |
| 150k+ | 714 | 19.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 45,140 | 17.3% |
| Petrol | 1,725 | 13.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,372 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 9,322 | 16.0% |
| 2023 | 9,467 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 9,385 | 18.7% |
| 2025 | 9,319 | 18.8% |
What to check before buying a 2014 X1
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.3% 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.
- Suspension (5.5% 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 (5.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2014 BMW X1s pass their MOT?
82.8% of the 46,865 2014 BMW X1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 BMW X1?
Tyres, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by suspension (5.5%).
Does the 2014 X1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 19.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 46,865 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.