1987 Austin Mini Mayfair — MOT failures & pass rate
863 MOT tests on the 1987 Austin Mini Mayfair are in this dataset, and 78.2% of them passed. That is 1.2 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.9% of tests against 9.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are non catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and service brake performance — non catalyst emissions alone was recorded 88 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1987 Mini Mayfair fails 19.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 23.2% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.7 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 23.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.4% in 2021 to 21.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 129 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 9.2% | 79 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 78 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.1% | 61 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 52 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.5% | 47 |
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 | 88 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 67 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 43 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 38 |
| 5 | Washers | 35 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 34 |
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% | 199 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 14.1% | 122 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.5% | 99 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.3% | 89 |
| 5 | Tyres | 8.7% | 75 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.0% | 69 |
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 | 215 | 19.5% |
| 30-60k | 331 | 19.9% |
| 60-90k | 246 | 26.0% |
| 90-120k | 56 | 23.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 215 | 27.4% |
| 2022 | 188 | 18.6% |
| 2023 | 164 | 19.5% |
| 2024 | 154 | 20.1% |
| 2025 | 142 | 21.8% |
What to check before buying a 1987 Mini Mayfair
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (9.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 1987 Austin Mini Mayfairs pass their MOT?
78.2% of the 863 1987 Austin Mini Mayfair MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1987 Austin Mini Mayfair?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.9% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (9.2%).
Does the 1987 Mini Mayfair get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.5% in the 0-30k band to 23.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 863 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.