1986 Austin Mini 1000 City E — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1986 Austin Mini 1000 City E passed 78.0% of its 653 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.7 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.5% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are non catalyst emissions, position lamp and service brake performance — non catalyst emissions alone was recorded 61 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.4% once past 60-90k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 23.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 88 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 9.5% | 62 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.0% | 59 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.1% | 53 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 46 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 32 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non catalyst emissions | 61 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 41 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 38 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 37 |
| 5 | Joints | 31 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 27 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 23.1% | 151 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 16.5% | 108 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.2% | 86 |
| 4 | Tyres | 12.3% | 80 |
| 5 | Brakes | 11.3% | 74 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.0% | 59 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 181 | 17.1% |
| 30-60k | 218 | 24.3% |
| 60-90k | 225 | 24.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 146 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 134 | 20.2% |
| 2023 | 132 | 19.7% |
| 2024 | 123 | 24.4% |
| 2025 | 118 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 1986 Mini 1000 City E
On a 1986 Mini 1000 City E, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (9.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1986 Austin Mini 1000 City Es pass their MOT?
78.0% of the 653 1986 Austin Mini 1000 City E MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 Austin Mini 1000 City E?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (9.5%).
Does the 1986 Mini 1000 City E get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.1% in the 0-30k band to 24.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 653 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.