2018 BMW X1 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 81,514 MOT tests, the 2018 BMW X1 recorded a 91.3% pass rate. That is 1.1 percentage points better than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 9.8%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.6%) and lighting & signalling (2.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,825 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.6% in the 0-30k band and 18.6% in the 150k+ band, a 12.0-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.1% of the time against 9.2% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.6% | 3,723 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 2,197 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.0% | 1,650 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 950 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.1% | 901 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.8% | 654 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 1,825 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,060 |
| 3 | Washers | 942 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 907 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 891 |
| 6 | Wipers | 880 |
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 | 23.2% | 18,944 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.4% | 6,858 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.8% | 6,374 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 2,277 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.5% | 2,017 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 673 |
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 | 32,369 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 36,985 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 10,039 | 12.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,765 | 14.1% |
| 120-150k | 291 | 15.5% |
| 150k+ | 59 | 18.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 43,303 | 9.2% |
| Petrol | 38,208 | 8.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,161 | 8.1% |
| 2022 | 16,295 | 7.3% |
| 2023 | 16,142 | 8.6% |
| 2024 | 15,870 | 9.3% |
| 2025 | 16,046 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 X1
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2018 BMW X1s pass their MOT?
91.3% of the 81,514 2018 BMW X1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 BMW X1?
Tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.7%).
Does the 2018 X1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 18.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 81,514 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.