2014 BMW X5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 BMW X5 passed 88.8% of its 30,000 recorded MOT tests. Against large SUVs of a similar age (15.0% fail rate), the 2014 X5 comes out 3.9pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.3%) and suspension (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, wipers and ball joint — tread depth alone was recorded 536 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.2% versus 7.4%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.3% | 1,590 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.5% | 747 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.1% | 614 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 590 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.7% | 519 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 413 |
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 | 536 |
| 2 | Wipers | 481 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 439 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 386 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 318 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 297 |
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 | 21.6% | 6,487 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.6% | 3,469 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.6% | 2,867 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.9% | 2,365 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 1,141 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 820 |
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 | 460 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 5,190 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 11,802 | 10.7% |
| 90-120k | 8,162 | 11.9% |
| 120-150k | 3,155 | 12.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,229 | 13.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 29,789 | 11.2% |
| Petrol | 211 | 11.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,344 | 11.9% |
| 2022 | 6,053 | 10.6% |
| 2023 | 5,962 | 10.9% |
| 2024 | 5,886 | 10.9% |
| 2025 | 5,755 | 11.4% |
What to check before buying a 2014 X5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.3% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Suspension (2.5% 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.
- Visibility (2.1% 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 2014 BMW X5s pass their MOT?
88.8% of the 30,000 2014 BMW X5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 BMW X5?
Tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by suspension (2.5%).
Does the 2014 X5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 13.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 30,000 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.