2018 BMW X2 — MOT failures & pass rate
27,786 MOT tests on the 2018 BMW X2 are in this dataset, and 88.4% of them passed. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 9.8% of the time, so this is 1.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.3%) and lighting & signalling (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and individual direction indicators — wipers alone was recorded 748 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2018 X2 fails 9.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.8% at 120-150k, a spread of only 1.9 points.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.9pp more often than petrol ones (12.1% vs 10.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.3% | 1,765 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 1,012 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.0% | 831 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 452 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.1% | 301 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.6% | 170 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 748 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 613 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 461 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 449 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 366 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 277 |
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 | 19.7% | 5,460 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.0% | 2,511 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.7% | 1,592 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 683 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.8% | 504 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 72 |
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 | 10,786 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 13,186 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,246 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 484 | 16.3% |
| 120-150k | 64 | 7.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 20,290 | 12.1% |
| Petrol | 7,496 | 10.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,669 | 10.6% |
| 2022 | 5,609 | 11.1% |
| 2023 | 5,549 | 11.6% |
| 2024 | 5,463 | 12.2% |
| 2025 | 5,496 | 12.5% |
What to check before buying a 2018 X2
On a 2018 X2, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.0% 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 X2s pass their MOT?
88.4% of the 27,786 2018 BMW X2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 BMW X2?
Tyres, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.6%).
Does the 2018 X2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 7.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,786 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.