2015 BMW X5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 38,798 MOT tests, the 2015 BMW X5 recorded an 89.0% pass rate. Against large SUVs of a similar age (13.7% fail rate), the 2015 X5 comes out 2.7pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 6.3% of all tests — 4.3 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and ball joint — tread depth alone was recorded 952 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.7% versus 7.5%.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 10.3% of the time against 11.4% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.3% | 2,433 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.0% | 780 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.9% | 726 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 676 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.7% | 646 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 238 |
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 | 952 |
| 2 | Wipers | 655 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 390 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 387 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 375 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 346 |
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 | 22.6% | 8,783 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.4% | 4,045 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.2% | 3,182 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.2% | 2,808 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 1,487 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 1,025 |
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 | 1,064 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 10,556 | 9.9% |
| 60-90k | 15,915 | 11.0% |
| 90-120k | 8,071 | 12.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,349 | 12.1% |
| 150k+ | 831 | 14.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 37,379 | 11.0% |
| Hybrid | 746 | 10.3% |
| Petrol | 673 | 11.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,111 | 10.9% |
| 2022 | 7,889 | 11.1% |
| 2023 | 7,675 | 10.3% |
| 2024 | 7,593 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 7,530 | 11.8% |
What to check before buying a 2015 X5
On a 2015 X5, 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.
- Visibility (2.0% 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.
- Suspension (1.9% 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.
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 2015 BMW X5s pass their MOT?
89.0% of the 38,798 2015 BMW X5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 BMW X5?
Tyres, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by visibility (2.0%).
Does the 2015 X5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 14.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 38,798 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.