BMW X4 MOT pass rate & common failures
The BMW X4 appears in 85,352 MOT tests spanning model years 2004–2025, and 88.8% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail at 11.8%, so the X4 sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
Best and worst X4 years
Ranked across X4 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
The strongest year on this record is 2022 (93.0% pass rate); the weakest is 2014 (85.2%). Older cars carry more of the difference than the average implies.
No single area dominates — tyres (5.3%) and visibility (2.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 2,173 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.6% in the 0-30k band and 18.2% in the 150k+ band, a 10.6-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 7.7% fail against 11.5% for diesel, a 3.8-point gap across 85,038 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every X4 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 4,342 | 85.2% | 14.8% | Tyres |
| 2015 | 12,131 | 85.2% | 14.8% | Tyres |
| 2016 | 15,618 | 86.4% | 13.6% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 12,095 | 88.6% | 11.4% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 11,496 | 90.8% | 9.2% | Tyres |
| 2019 | 17,912 | 91.2% | 8.8% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 6,301 | 91.2% | 8.8% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 3,613 | 91.8% | 8.2% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 1,782 | 93.0% | 7.0% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 55 | 98.2% | 1.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.3% | 4,499 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.5% | 2,150 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 1,990 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.3% | 1,930 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.8% | 1,525 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 648 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.5% | 437 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 334 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 2,173 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,577 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,552 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,378 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,093 |
| 6 | Washers | 945 |
| 7 | Registration plates | 722 |
| 8 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 587 |
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 | 20.7% | 17,650 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.0% | 9,413 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.0% | 7,728 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.8% | 3,269 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 2,669 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 1,167 |
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 | 18,233 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 37,372 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 21,201 | 13.8% |
| 90-120k | 6,657 | 15.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,468 | 17.8% |
| 150k+ | 340 | 18.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 78,397 | 11.5% |
| Petrol | 6,641 | 7.7% |
| Hybrid | 314 | 6.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,619 | 10.9% |
| 2022 | 15,721 | 10.6% |
| 2023 | 17,749 | 11.2% |
| 2024 | 19,307 | 11.4% |
| 2025 | 20,956 | 11.6% |
What to check before buying a BMW X4
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
- Visibility (2.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.3% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW X4?
88.8% of the 85,352 BMW X4 MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 11.2% fail rate, across model years 2004–2025.
What does the BMW X4 most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests, then visibility (2.5%).
Which X4 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2022 has the best pass rate at 93.0% and 2014 the weakest at 85.2%, from 1,782 and 4,342 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect X4 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 18.2% for 150k+, a 10.6-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel X4 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 7.7% of the time against 11.5% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 85,352 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.