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Common problems by part

BMW X5 brakes problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 29,231 MOT tests · Updated

At 3 years, 0.4 in 100 MOT tests of the BMW X5 failed on brakes, against 1.7 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 29,231 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: fails less often than all class 4 vehicles the same age (0.2–0.3×) (all test years), 110 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 21 ages from 3 to 23 years, 366,311 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Brake pads under 1.5 mm, 0.1 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.4 fails per 100 MOT tests at 3 years, against 1.7 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 3 (all test years). The BMW X5 fails less often here.

Why it matters

A brakes fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated dangerous by DVSA.

What to check

Look through the wheels at the discs for a deep lip or heavy scoring, and check the brake pipes under the car for flaky rust. On the drive the car should stop straight with no pull or judder.

BMW X5 brakes fails by age

BMW X5 brakes fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the BMW X5. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.0510153 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 1.7), 29,231 MOT tests34 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 2.2), 27,686 MOT tests5 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 26,945 MOT tests56 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 3.5), 28,252 MOT tests7 years: 1.5 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 26,671 MOT tests78 years: 1.6 per 100 (all cars 4.8), 24,834 MOT tests9 years: 2.1 per 100 (all cars 5.6), 22,071 MOT tests910 years: 2.6 per 100 (all cars 6.5), 19,840 MOT tests11 years: 3.0 per 100 (all cars 7.3), 16,912 MOT tests1112 years: 3.4 per 100 (all cars 8.2), 15,388 MOT tests13 years: 4.3 per 100 (all cars 9.1), 15,867 MOT tests1314 years: 5.0 per 100 (all cars 9.9), 15,130 MOT tests15 years: 5.1 per 100 (all cars 10.7), 14,855 MOT tests1516 years: 9.1 per 100 (all cars 11.6), 14,495 MOT tests17 years: 13.7 per 100 (all cars 12.3), 16,441 MOT tests1718 years: 15.2 per 100 (all cars 12.9), 15,773 MOT tests19 years: 17.3 per 100 (all cars 13.3), 13,850 MOT tests1920 years: 16.9 per 100 (all cars 13.5), 11,131 MOT tests21 years: 15.8 per 100 (all cars 13.3), 6,407 MOT tests2122 years: 15.2 per 100 (all cars 13.1), 3,208 MOT tests23 years: 14.5 per 100 (all cars 12.7), 1,324 MOT tests23
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. BMW X5 All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
329,2310.41.7
427,6860.82.2
526,9451.02.8
628,2521.33.5
726,6711.54.1
824,8341.64.8
922,0712.15.6
1019,8402.66.5
1116,9123.07.3
1215,3883.48.2
1315,8674.39.1
1415,1305.09.9
1514,8555.110.7
1614,4959.111.6
1716,44113.712.3
1815,77315.212.9
19*13,85017.313.3
20*11,13116.913.5
21*6,40715.813.3
22*3,20815.213.1
23*1,32414.512.7

All first-use years of the BMW X5 pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the brakes at 3 years

Fails

  • Brake pads under 1.5 mm: 0.1 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 1.0. Replace brake pads: estimated £72–£174 (0.6–1.2 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts £25–£80) Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick MOT fail
  • Brake pads: worn down to wear indicator: 0.1 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.1. Replace brake pads: estimated £72–£174 (0.6–1.2 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts £25–£80) Brake pad(s) worn down to wear indicator MOT fail

Advisories (not fails)

Replace brake pads cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 3.0 diesel: 0.7 per 100 at 3 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 10,631 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

Look through the wheels at the discs for a deep lip or heavy scoring, and check the brake pipes under the car for flaky rust. On the drive the car should stop straight with no pull or judder.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Brake pads: wearing thin.

Check one BMW X5, not the average

The figures here describe BMW X5 cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

  • Check a BMW X5's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
  • MOT advisory checker Paste an advisory or defect to read DVSA's wording, its grade and what tends to happen at the next MOT.

Other BMW X5 problems

Brakes on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the BMW X5 have more brakes problems than other cars?

0.2 to 0.3 times the brakes fail rate of all class 4 vehicles the same age at 3 years (all test years), from 29,231 MOT tests. The interval is clear of 0.8 in the same direction at 13 of the 21 ages seen (ages up to 18 with at least 100 MOT tests with a fail).

How common are BMW X5 brakes problems?

0.4 in 100 MOT tests at 3 years failed on brakes, against 1.7 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 29,231 MOT tests).

What is the most common BMW X5 brakes fail?

0.1 in 100 MOT tests at 3 years: Brake pads under 1.5 mm (33 MOT tests with it).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 366,311 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare