2021 BMW X5 — MOT failures & pass rate
15,298 MOT tests on the 2021 BMW X5 are in this dataset, and 88.0% of them passed. That is 3.1 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 8.8%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 9.1% of tests against 1.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, side repeaters and registration plates — headlamp aim alone was recorded 155 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 X5 fails 10.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.2 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 9.0% fail against 13.6% for hybrid, a 4.5-point gap across 9,336 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.6% of tests failed in 2023 against 11.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 9.1% | 1,399 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 268 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.0% | 158 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.6% | 96 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.5% | 77 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 65 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 155 |
| 2 | Side repeaters | 128 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 121 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 119 |
| 5 | Washers | 99 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 73 |
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 | 17.3% | 2,651 |
| 2 | Other defects | 5.6% | 850 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.4% | 524 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.2% | 341 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.8% | 274 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 71 |
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 | 5,401 | 10.6% |
| 30-60k | 8,023 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,523 | 14.8% |
| 90-120k | 261 | 16.1% |
| 120-150k | 58 | 13.8% |
| 150k+ | 32 | 9.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 8,262 | 13.6% |
| Diesel | 5,962 | 10.2% |
| Petrol | 1,074 | 9.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 444 | 5.6% |
| 2024 | 7,751 | 12.8% |
| 2025 | 7,048 | 11.5% |
What to check before buying a 2021 X5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 9.1% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (9.1% 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 (1.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.0% 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.
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 2021 BMW X5s pass their MOT?
88.0% of the 15,298 2021 BMW X5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 BMW X5?
Tyres, recorded in 9.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.8%).
Does the 2021 X5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.6% in the 0-30k band to 9.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,298 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.