2021 BMW X7 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 BMW X7 passed 89.5% of its 1,491 recorded MOT tests. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 8.9% of the time, so this is 1.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.9% of tests against 1.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, tread depth and headlamp aim — registration plates alone was recorded 21 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 X7 fails 10.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.9% at 60-90k, a spread of only 1.6 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 3.0% of tests failed in 2023 against 10.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.9% | 118 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 28 |
| 3 | Other defects | 0.8% | 12 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 9 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.5% | 7 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 4 |
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 | 21 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 19 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 19 |
| 4 | Side repeaters | 14 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 9 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 5 |
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 | 15.8% | 235 |
| 2 | Other defects | 7.2% | 108 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.9% | 43 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 37 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.8% | 27 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 23 |
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 | 542 | 10.5% |
| 30-60k | 816 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 123 | 8.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,209 | 10.3% |
| Petrol | 170 | 11.2% |
| Hybrid | 112 | 12.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 33 | 3.0% |
| 2024 | 753 | 11.2% |
| 2025 | 700 | 10.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 X7
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Other defects (0.8% 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 X7s pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 1,491 2021 BMW X7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 BMW X7?
Tyres, recorded in 7.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.9%).
Does the 2021 X7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.5% in the 0-30k band to 8.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,491 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.