MOT failures by make

BMW MOT faults: which failures are more common than on similar cars

Across 3,694,719 MOT tests of BMW cars in 2023–2024, 4 of the make's most common failure items stand out against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel, led by “Condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure” at 2.02× the comparable rate. Overall BMWs passed 78.5% of tests and failed 0.76× as often as comparable cars.

Check what a specific car really costs to own

Data to 2024-12-30 · Page updated 2026-09-28 · Publisher: 73 Auto

BMW MOT tests: 3,694,719; 1,935,385 cars, 2023–2024
Initial pass rate: 78.5%; DVSA results, retests excluded
Faults that stand out: 4; passed the make × item gate

Failures more common on BMWs than on similar cars

Each links to the model-by-model and age breakdown for BMW.

Condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure · 2.02× · 0.98% of tests
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak · 1.78× · 1.48% of tests

Failures less common on BMWs

Common failure items where BMWs do clearly better than comparable cars, beyond the make's overall level.

Coil spring: fractured or broken · 0.41× · 0.94% of tests
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively · 0.49× · 1.00% of tests

BMW’s most common MOT failure items

Ranked by how many BMW tests failed on each item. The last column compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel (1.00 = the same rate).

BMW: most common MOT failure items with observed ÷ expected
Defect item	Rank	Tests failing	Share	vs similar cars
Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	#1	87,633	2.37%	0.91×
Condition: has ply or cords exposed	#2	64,615	1.75%	1.19×
Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords	#3	62,288	1.69%	1.23×
Position lamp: not working	#4	57,113	1.55%	0.61×
Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak	#5	54,513	1.48%	1.78×
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid	#6	52,328	1.42%	1.00×
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick	#7	46,992	1.27%	0.63×
Headlamp aim: too low	#8	39,534	1.07%	0.90×
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively	#9	36,912	1.00%	0.50×
Condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure	#10	36,282	0.98%	2.02×
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam	#11	36,224	0.98%	0.69×
Coil spring: fractured or broken	#12	34,907	0.94%	0.41×
Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements	#13	32,911	0.89%	0.77×
Headlamp aim: too high	#14	31,507	0.85%	0.95×
Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn	#15	31,460	0.85%	0.69×

Only the 150 most common national MOT failure items are compared; a rank counts every failure item recorded on the make.

How to use this

The list shows what a BMW is more likely than other cars to fail on, which is where to look on a pre-MOT check or a used-car inspection. The model pages break the same data down further — see BMW MOT pass rates by model.

Limitations

Official data: DVSA anonymised MOT results (2023–2024). 73 Auto analysis: expected failures apply the national rate of each item for the test's age, mileage band and fuel. MOT results reflect maintenance and use as well as design; they do not rank makes by reliability.

Check a BMW’s MOT history before you buy

Enter a registration to see which of these faults that particular car has failed or been advised on, and what it costs to run. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.

UK number plate or 17-character VIN

Where these figures come from

Anonymised MOT tests and results (2023 and 2024) — Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Open Government Licence v3.0.

Figures labelled as 73 Auto estimates are our own analysis of these sources, set out in the methodology and data sources. To report a factual error, see corrections.