2023 BMW X1 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2023 BMW X1 passed 93.5% of its 309 recorded MOT tests. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 5.1% of the time, so this is 1.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.9%) and lighting & signalling (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, malfunction indicator lamp and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 8 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 9.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.9% | 12 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 8 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 3 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.7% | 2 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.3% | 1 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 1 |
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 | 8 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 3 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2 |
| 4 | Other components | 2 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 1 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 1 |
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 | 9.7% | 30 |
| 2 | Other defects | 2.6% | 8 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.0% | 3 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.0% | 3 |
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 | 259 | 4.3% |
| 30-60k | 45 | 20.0% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 215 | 5.6% |
| Diesel | 82 | 8.5% |
What to check before buying a 2023 X1
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2023 BMW X1s pass their MOT?
93.5% of the 309 2023 BMW X1 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 BMW X1?
Tyres, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.6%).
Does the 2023 X1 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.3% in the 0-30k band to 20.0% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 309 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.