2009 BMW X5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 24,466 MOT tests, the 2009 BMW X5 recorded an 80.6% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 21.7% of the time, so this is 2.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.0%) and suspension (9.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, ball joint and position lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 964 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2009 X5 fails 18.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 19.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.7 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 18.3% of the time against 19.5% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 2,442 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.0% | 2,198 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.5% | 1,358 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.2% | 1,036 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 974 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.6% | 381 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 964 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 854 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 829 |
| 4 | Washers | 824 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 762 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 670 |
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 | 27.6% | 6,747 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.1% | 5,885 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.8% | 4,356 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.8% | 3,877 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 3,384 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.0% | 1,952 |
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 | 80 | 18.8% |
| 30-60k | 655 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 3,239 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 8,233 | 20.3% |
| 120-150k | 7,678 | 19.2% |
| 150k+ | 4,568 | 19.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 23,903 | 19.5% |
| Petrol | 563 | 18.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,429 | 19.6% |
| 2022 | 5,255 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 5,041 | 19.9% |
| 2024 | 4,507 | 18.4% |
| 2025 | 4,234 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 X5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.0% 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.
- Tyres (5.5% 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.
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 2009 BMW X5s pass their MOT?
80.6% of the 24,466 2009 BMW X5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 BMW X5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.0% of tests, followed by suspension (9.0%).
Does the 2009 X5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.8% in the 0-30k band to 19.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,466 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.