2020 BMW X6 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,594 MOT tests, the 2020 BMW X6 recorded an 89.5% pass rate. That is 1.2 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 9.3%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.7% of tests against 1.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, headlamp aim and washers — registration plates alone was recorded 62 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 X6 fails 9.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.8% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.0 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.8% of the time against 10.8% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.8% of tests failed in 2022 against 9.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.7% | 276 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 48 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.1% | 40 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.0% | 36 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 28 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.5% | 19 |
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 | 62 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 3 | Washers | 31 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 26 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 19 |
| 6 | Wipers | 17 |
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 | 16.3% | 585 |
| 2 | Other defects | 5.9% | 213 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.7% | 203 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.3% | 83 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 81 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 21 |
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 | 1,480 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,778 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 298 | 11.4% |
| 90-120k | 34 | 8.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,442 | 10.8% |
| Petrol | 1,152 | 9.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 62 | 4.8% |
| 2023 | 1,224 | 11.8% |
| 2024 | 1,158 | 10.5% |
| 2025 | 1,142 | 9.3% |
What to check before buying a 2020 X6
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.7% 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 (1.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.1% 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 2020 BMW X6s pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 3,594 2020 BMW X6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 BMW X6?
Tyres, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.3%).
Does the 2020 X6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 8.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,594 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.