2020 BMW X5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 16,694 MOT tests, the 2020 BMW X5 recorded an 89.7% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 9.3%, so the 2020 X5 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 7.4% of all tests — 6.0 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, headlamp aim and side repeaters — registration plates alone was recorded 163 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.5% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (11.4% vs 9.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.1% in 2021 to 9.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.4% | 1,242 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 241 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.8% | 134 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.6% | 105 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 96 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.5% | 92 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plates | 163 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 158 |
| 3 | Side repeaters | 114 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 111 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 101 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 90 |
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 | 16.7% | 2,786 |
| 2 | Other defects | 5.9% | 984 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.4% | 735 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 441 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.4% | 398 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 51 |
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 | 5,741 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 8,647 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,876 | 12.6% |
| 90-120k | 321 | 12.2% |
| 120-150k | 69 | 7.2% |
| 150k+ | 39 | 20.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,793 | 9.9% |
| Hybrid | 4,244 | 11.4% |
| Petrol | 2,656 | 9.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 57 | 21.1% |
| 2022 | 178 | 6.7% |
| 2023 | 5,700 | 11.0% |
| 2024 | 5,438 | 10.0% |
| 2025 | 5,321 | 9.7% |
What to check before buying a 2020 X5
On a 2020 X5, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.4% 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 (1.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.8% 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 2020 BMW X5s pass their MOT?
89.7% of the 16,694 2020 BMW X5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 BMW X5?
Tyres, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.4%).
Does the 2020 X5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 20.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,694 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.