BMW X1 Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the BMW X1 fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 200,387 MOT tests across 14 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: premium | Fuel: Petrol, Diesel
88%
BMW X1 pass rate
88%
BMW average
82%
All-model average
The BMW X1 has an average MOT pass rate of 88%, which is equal to the BMW average and 6 points above the average across all models in our data. Newer BMW X1s pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 9 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the BMW X1 Fails Its MOT On
Of the 19,279 MOT tests on the BMW X1 that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Tyres
33%Cars and vans the same age: 25% (the X1 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £50-£300
Suspension
27%Cars and vans the same age: 29% · Typical repair £150-£600
Lights and electrics
26%Cars and vans the same age: 34% (the X1 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
17%Cars and vans the same age: 21% · Typical repair £80-£450
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
16%Cars and vans the same age: 15% · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (12% of failed tests, suspension)
- Tyre has a cut deep enough to reach the ply or cords (11% of failed tests, tyres)
- Tyre tread depth below the 1.6mm limit (9.5% of failed tests, tyres)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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BMW X1 Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each X1 year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
BMW X1 Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Petrol | 1.5L | 94% | 5% | - |
| 2021 | Diesel | 2.0L | 93% | 6% | 93% (0) |
| 2020 | Diesel | 2.0L | 93% | 6% | 92% (+1) |
| 2019 | Petrol | 1.5L | 93% | 7% | 91% (+2) |
| 2018 | Diesel | 2.0L | 91% | 8% | 89% (+2) |
| 2017 | Diesel | 1.6L | 91% | 9% | 87% (+4) |
| 2016 | Diesel | 2.0L | 90% | 9% | 86% (+4) |
| 2015 | Petrol | 2.0L | 87% | 13% | 84% (+3) |
| 2014 | Diesel | 2.0L | 83% | 16% | 82% (+1) |
| 2013 | Diesel | 2.0L | 83% | 16% | 80% (+3) |
| 2012 | Diesel | 2.0L | 82% | 18% | 79% (+3) |
| 2011 | Petrol | 3.0L | 81% | 18% | 77% (+4) |
| 2010 | Petrol | 3.0L | 81% | 19% | 75% (+6) |
| 2009 | Diesel | 2.0L | 81% | 19% | - |
BMW X1 Running Costs
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BMW X1 FAQ
What are the most common BMW X1 problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the BMW X1 that failed at the first attempt most often failed on tyres (33% of the 19,279 failed tests), suspension (27%) and lights and electrics (26%). The single most common fault was "Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn" (12%). Across 200,387 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 88% ended in a pass.
Is the BMW X1 reliable?
The BMW X1 has an average MOT pass rate of 88%, from 200,387 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 3 points more often on average, a better than average result for its age.
Which BMW X1 years should I avoid?
No BMW X1 year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). The years that passed most often for their age were the 2010 (81% of 9,233 tests passed, against 75% for all 2010 cars), the 2017 (91% of 25,593 tests passed, against 87% for all 2017 cars) and the 2016 (90% of 22,978 tests passed, against 86% for all 2016 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common BMW X1 faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a BMW X1 typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other BMW Models
Common problems pages for other BMW models