2021 BMW X6 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 BMW X6 passed 87.9% of its 2,297 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.2 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 8.8%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 8.6% of all tests — 6.6 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 malfunction indicator lamp — registration plates alone was recorded 40 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 X6 fails 11.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 12.4% at 60-90k, a spread of only 0.5 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 12.1% of the time against 12.2% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.7% of tests failed in 2023 against 9.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.6% | 197 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 45 |
| 3 | Other defects | 1.2% | 27 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.0% | 24 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 23 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.6% | 14 |
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 | 40 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 23 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 22 |
| 4 | Washers | 19 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 19 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 18 |
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 | 17.9% | 411 |
| 2 | Other defects | 5.8% | 132 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.0% | 68 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 61 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 35 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.5% | 12 |
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 | 1,050 | 11.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,120 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 113 | 12.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,545 | 12.1% |
| Petrol | 502 | 12.2% |
| Hybrid | 250 | 11.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 78 | 7.7% |
| 2024 | 1,149 | 14.4% |
| 2025 | 1,068 | 9.8% |
What to check before buying a 2021 X6
On a 2021 X6, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (8.6% 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 (2.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Other defects (1.2% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
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 X6s pass their MOT?
87.9% of the 2,297 2021 BMW X6 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 BMW X6?
Tyres, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.0%).
Does the 2021 X6 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.9% in the 0-30k band to 12.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,297 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.