MOT failures by make
BMW MOT failures for “Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak”
BMW cars failed their MOT on “Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak” in 1.48% of 3,694,719 tests in 2023–2024 (54,513 tests) — 1.8 times as often as comparable cars of the same age, mileage and fuel, which would have failed on it in about 0.83% of tests. It is the number 5 most common failure item on BMWs.
Data to 2024-12-30 · Page updated 2026-09-28 · Publisher: 73 Auto
- BMW tests failing on it
- 1.48%
- 54,513 of 3,694,719 tests, 2023–2024
- Comparable cars
- 0.83%
- national rate at the same age, mileage and fuel
- Observed ÷ expected
- 1.78×
- 73 Auto analysis · rank #5 for BMW
How unusual this is for the make
Across all MOT failures, BMWs fail 24% less often than comparable cars. On this item the gap is 2.35× wider than that overall level, so it is a genuine BMW pattern rather than a reflection of how often the make fails in general. It is a major defect in the suspension part of the test. Nationally it appears on 0.84% of MOT tests.
BMW models and “Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak”
The BMW 3 Series is most affected (2.66× comparable cars); the BMW M4 least (0.07×). Not every model follows the make: the pattern is concentrated in some models. Model rows compare with cars of the same age and fuel.
| Model | Tests | Failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 3 Series | 1,007,360 | 2.52% | 2.66× |
| BMW 1 Series | 795,720 | 2.25% | 2.63× |
| BMW 4 Series | 206,848 | 0.92% | 1.86× |
| BMW Z3 | 24,264 | 1.21% | 1.57× |
| BMW 2 Series | 233,716 | 0.60% | 1.46× |
| BMW 5 Series | 428,945 | 0.89% | 1.04× |
| BMW i3 | 43,497 | 0.19% | 0.90× |
| BMW Z4 | 70,690 | 1.00% | 0.88× |
| BMW X1 | 207,572 | 0.51% | 0.86× |
| BMW X3 | 204,786 | 0.52% | 0.75× |
| BMW X4 | 33,200 | 0.29% | 0.70× |
| BMW 640 | 20,209 | 0.36% | 0.48× |
| BMW 7 Series | 38,023 | 0.24% | 0.30× |
| BMW 6 Series | 10,465 | 0.17% | 0.28× |
| BMW X5 | 180,951 | 0.18% | 0.20× |
| BMW X6 | 30,776 | 0.14% | 0.19× |
| BMW M3 | 31,544 | 0.14% | 0.14× |
| BMW X2 | 34,912 | 0.03% | 0.14× |
| BMW M4 | 24,113 | 0.03% | 0.07× |
By age at test
The difference is largest at 11-12 years old: 3.36% of BMW tests against 1.27% for comparable cars.
| Age (years) | BMW tests | BMW | Comparable cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 548,699 | 0.10% | 0.21% |
| 5-6 | 614,151 | 0.43% | 0.36% |
| 7-8 | 602,445 | 0.83% | 0.64% |
| 9-10 | 478,658 | 1.67% | 0.90% |
| 11-12 | 365,554 | 3.36% | 1.27% |
| 13-15 | 395,077 | 4.01% | 1.69% |
| 16+ | 514,741 | 1.97% | 1.43% |
Other BMW MOT faults that stand out
- Coil spring: fractured or broken · 0.41× comparable cars
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively · 0.49× comparable cars
- Condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure · 2.02× comparable cars
Limitations
Official data: DVSA's anonymised MOT results (2023–2024), class 4 initial tests, cars at least 2.5 years old. 73 Auto analysis: the comparison rate applies the national rate of this item for each test's own age, mileage band and fuel to the BMW tests. An MOT result reflects maintenance, mileage and how a car is used as well as its design, so this is not a measure of which make is most reliable. The wording of the defect is DVSA's.
Has this BMW failed on it before?
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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.