2009 MINI Clubman — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 538 MOT tests, the 2009 MINI Clubman recorded a 74.9% pass rate. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (25.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.6%) and emissions & environmental (11.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 87 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 32.0% once past 120-150k — 2.1× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 73 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 11.0% | 59 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.9% | 32 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.3% | 23 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.5% | 19 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.0% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 87 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 38 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 18 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 17 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 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 | 30.1% | 162 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.4% | 126 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.9% | 118 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.5% | 94 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 78 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.2% | 60 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 72 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 209 | 28.2% |
| 90-120k | 132 | 23.5% |
| 120-150k | 78 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 377 | 26.0% |
| Diesel | 161 | 23.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 90 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 100 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 105 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 128 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 115 | 23.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Clubman
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (11.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Tyres (5.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2009 MINI Clubmans pass their MOT?
74.9% of the 538 2009 MINI Clubman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 MINI Clubman?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (11.0%).
Does the 2009 Clubman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.3% in the 30-60k band to 32.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 538 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.