BMW X6 MOT pass rate & common failures
85,498 MOT tests on the BMW X6 (2007–2023) give it an 87.2% pass rate. Against large SUVs of a similar age (14.4% fail rate), the X6 comes out 1.6pp better. Its most common failure areas are tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
Best and worst X6 years
Ranked across X6 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
The strongest year on this record is 2016 (91.0% pass rate); the weakest is 2009 (81.6%). Older cars carry more of the difference than the average implies.
No single area dominates — tyres (5.9%) and suspension (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 1,818 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 17.4% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 10.9% fail against 12.9% for diesel, a 2.0-point gap across 85,090 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every X6 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2,725 | 82.2% | 17.8% | Suspension |
| 2009 | 5,512 | 81.6% | 18.4% | Suspension |
| 2010 | 4,528 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Suspension |
| 2011 | 4,493 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Suspension |
| 2012 | 6,418 | 83.3% | 16.8% | Suspension |
| 2013 | 7,061 | 85.0% | 15.0% | Tyres |
| 2014 | 7,886 | 85.7% | 14.3% | Tyres |
| 2015 | 7,162 | 89.5% | 10.5% | Tyres |
| 2016 | 9,980 | 91.0% | 9.0% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 7,687 | 90.7% | 9.3% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 11,910 | 90.0% | 10.0% | Tyres |
| 2019 | 3,029 | 89.4% | 10.6% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 3,594 | 89.5% | 10.5% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 2,297 | 87.9% | 12.1% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 1,143 | 89.0% | 11.0% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 68 | 92.7% | 7.3% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 5,045 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.4% | 2,909 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 2,880 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 2,181 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.0% | 1,712 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 931 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.8% | 661 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 576 |
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 | 1,818 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,603 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,238 |
| 4 | Washers | 1,193 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,103 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 1,073 |
| 7 | Ball joint | 927 |
| 8 | Side repeaters | 790 |
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 | 21.9% | 18,754 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.2% | 9,577 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.9% | 7,629 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.5% | 5,546 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 4,576 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 2,764 |
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 | 9,821 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 24,733 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 23,231 | 13.0% |
| 90-120k | 16,872 | 15.7% |
| 120-150k | 7,845 | 17.4% |
| 150k+ | 2,979 | 17.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 80,153 | 12.9% |
| Petrol | 4,937 | 10.9% |
| Hybrid | 405 | 11.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,166 | 12.5% |
| 2022 | 16,493 | 13.0% |
| 2023 | 17,230 | 12.9% |
| 2024 | 17,674 | 13.2% |
| 2025 | 17,935 | 12.4% |
What to check before buying a BMW X6
- Tyres (5.9% 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 (3.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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
What is the MOT pass rate for the BMW X6?
87.2% of the 85,498 BMW X6 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 12.8% fail rate, across model years 2007–2023.
What does the BMW X6 most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, then suspension (3.4%).
Which X6 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2016 has the best pass rate at 91.0% and 2009 the weakest at 81.6%, from 9,980 and 5,512 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect X6 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 17.4% for 150k+, a 8.6-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel X6 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 10.9% of the time against 12.9% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 85,498 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.