2011 MINI Clubman — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 MINI Clubman passed 81.7% of its 710 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (23.1% fail rate), the 2011 Clubman comes out 4.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.4% of all tests — 9.6 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 54 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 22.4% versus 18.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 102 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.8% | 34 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.2% | 30 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.1% | 22 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 20 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 54 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 45 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 26 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 20 |
| 5 | Wipers | 18 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 15 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.4% | 180 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.7% | 147 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.5% | 117 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.6% | 68 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 60 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.2% | 51 |
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 | 142 | 18.3% |
| 60-90k | 309 | 19.7% |
| 90-120k | 174 | 16.1% |
| 120-150k | 58 | 22.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 361 | 15.8% |
| Diesel | 349 | 20.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 123 | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 141 | 17.7% |
| 2023 | 150 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 155 | 20.6% |
| 2025 | 141 | 15.6% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Clubman
On a 2011 Clubman, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.8% 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.
- Suspension (4.2% 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 2011 MINI Clubmans pass their MOT?
81.7% of the 710 2011 MINI Clubman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 MINI Clubman?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by tyres (4.8%).
Does the 2011 Clubman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.3% in the 30-60k band to 22.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 710 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.