2012 MINI Clubman — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 487 MOT tests, the 2012 MINI Clubman recorded an 82.3% pass rate. That is 3.9 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests against 5.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 28 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2012 Clubman fails 15.3% of the time in the 30-60k band and 17.9% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.6 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 53 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.1% | 25 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.7% | 23 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.9% | 19 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.5% | 17 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 8 |
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 | 28 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 3 | Wipers | 24 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 14 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 13 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 11 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 26.9% | 131 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.1% | 122 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.6% | 76 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 59 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.8% | 43 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.8% | 28 |
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 | 124 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 201 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 123 | 17.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 316 | 20.3% |
| Petrol | 171 | 12.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 79 | 15.2% |
| 2022 | 92 | 19.6% |
| 2023 | 98 | 17.3% |
| 2024 | 107 | 18.7% |
| 2025 | 111 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Clubman
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.1% 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.
- Visibility (4.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2012 MINI Clubmans pass their MOT?
82.3% of the 487 2012 MINI Clubman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 MINI Clubman?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests, followed by tyres (5.1%).
Does the 2012 Clubman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.3% in the 30-60k band to 17.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 487 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.