1986 Austin Mini Piccadilly — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 262 MOT tests, the 1986 Austin Mini Piccadilly recorded a 76.3% pass rate. That is 3.3 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests against 11.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are non catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and ball joint — non catalyst emissions alone was recorded 25 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.3% in the 0-30k band and 27.2% in the 60-90k band, a 10.8-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 24.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.9% in 2021 to 20.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 44 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.5% | 30 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 9.9% | 26 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.5% | 25 |
| 5 | Suspension | 8.0% | 21 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.1% | 16 |
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 | 25 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 15 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 14 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 13 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 12 |
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 | 24.8% | 65 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 22.9% | 60 |
| 3 | Tyres | 13.0% | 34 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.9% | 26 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 24 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.6% | 20 |
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 | 49 | 16.3% |
| 30-60k | 126 | 25.4% |
| 60-90k | 81 | 27.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 54 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 54 | 25.9% |
| 2023 | 56 | 23.2% |
| 2024 | 53 | 22.6% |
| 2025 | 45 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 1986 Mini Piccadilly
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Emissions & environmental (9.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Piccadillys pass their MOT?
76.3% of the 262 1986 Austin Mini Piccadilly MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 Austin Mini Piccadilly?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (11.5%).
Does the 1986 Mini Piccadilly get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.3% in the 0-30k band to 27.2% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 262 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.