BMW i3 2018: MOT failure rate for its age
10.7% of 12,424 MOT tests of the BMW i3 first registered in 2018 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 100.0 (95% CI 94.6–105.4; 100 = normal for this model at that age): the 2018 build year is no different from other years of the same model at the same age.
| Measure | Value | Unit | Compared with | Years | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed first time | 10.7 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 12424 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 94.6–105.4) | 100.0 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 12424 |
| Rank among this model's 8 build years | 4 | of 8 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 12424 |
| Tested in 2024 | 3091 | tests | median 37,001 miles | 2024 | 3091 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2018 BMW i3 fail at each age?
Cars built in 2018 were tested at ages 3 to 6 between 2019 and 2024. Each row compares their first-time failure share with what this model normally shows at that age, after allowing for the overall failure level of each test year.
| Age | Tests | Failed, % | 95% interval | Normal for this model at that age, % | Index (100 = normal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3,166 | 11.1 | 10.1–12.3 | 10.5 | 105.6 |
| 4 | 3,115 | 9.5 | 8.5–10.6 | 9.6 | 99 |
| 5 | 3,052 | 10.2 | 9.2–11.3 | 10.6 | 96.2 |
| 6 | 3,091 | 11.9 | 10.8–13.1 | 12 | 99 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 12,424 (initial tests) · Method: normal rate = this model's first-time failure share at that age across its build years (cells of 400+ tests), adjusted for each test year's overall level; cells of 30+ tests, under 500 marked rough · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
What fails most on the 2018 BMW i3?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2018 is tyres: 8.2 items per 100 first tests, against 7.6 across all build years of the BMW i3. These counts are not age-adjusted: cars built in 2018 were tested at ages 3 to 6.
| Failure group | Built 2018, per 100 | All build years, per 100 | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 8.2 | 7.6 | 1,021 |
| Visibility | 3.8 | 4 | 472 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1.1 | 1.7 | 140 |
| Brakes | 0.7 | 1 | 83 |
| Suspension | 0.4 | 0.6 | 54 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 12,517 (initial tests of this build year) · Method: failure items grouped by DVSA's top-level defect groups, per 100 initial tests; groups with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How does 2018 compare with the years around it?
Among the 8 published build years of the BMW i3, 2018 ranks 4 (1 = fails least for its age). 2017: index 95.3. 2019: index 105.2.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 86.7 | 68.1–105.4 | no different (rough estimate) | 632 |
| 2014 | 100.5 | 94.4–106.5 | no different | 7,298 |
| 2015 | 103.5 | 98.4–108.6 | no different | 11,734 |
| 2016 | 97.8 | 92.9–102.7 | no different | 13,083 |
| 2017 | 95.3 | 90.9–99.8 | better | 16,664 |
| 2018 | 100.0 | 94.6–105.4 | no different | 12,424 |
| 2019 | 105.2 | 99.5–110.8 | no different | 12,456 |
| 2020 | 110.1 | 103.0–117.2 | worse | 8,368 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 82,659 (initial tests) · Method: observed failures against those expected for the same model at the same ages, test-year level adjusted; verdict follows the printed one-decimal bound · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). BMW i3 2018 MOT statistics (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 30 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/bmw-i3/2018/
How every figure is calculated: methodology. Age, test year and build year are tied together (age = test year − build year), so the test-year level is taken as observed, not estimated.
Other pages for this model
BMW i3 2013 · BMW i3 2014 · BMW i3 2015 · BMW i3 2016 · BMW i3 2017 · BMW i3 2019 · BMW i3 2020 · BMW i3 in Norway · BMW i3 in Finland · BMW i3 by postcode area · BMW i3 body, chassis and structure failures · BMW i3 brakes failures · BMW i3 vehicle identification failures · BMW i3 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · BMW i3 noise, emissions and leaks failures · BMW i3 road wheels failures · BMW i3 seat belts and airbags failures · BMW i3 steering failures · BMW i3 suspension failures · BMW i3 tyres failures · BMW i3 visibility failures