2015 MINI Clubman — MOT failures & pass rate
8,063 MOT tests on the 2015 MINI Clubman are in this dataset, and 86.6% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 15.6% of the time, so this is 2.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.2%) and lighting & signalling (5.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, tread depth and headlamp aim — stop lamp alone was recorded 201 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.2% once past 120-150k — 2.3× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 13.1% of the time against 14.0% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.2% | 503 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 412 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.9% | 230 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 190 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.0% | 161 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 72 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 201 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 160 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 148 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 144 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 141 |
| 6 | Wipers | 121 |
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% | 2,051 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.2% | 1,143 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.1% | 489 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.8% | 466 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 306 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 2.5% | 204 |
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 | 823 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 3,837 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,652 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 646 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 88 | 18.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,744 | 13.1% |
| Diesel | 2,319 | 14.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,538 | 11.6% |
| 2022 | 1,566 | 11.6% |
| 2023 | 1,600 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 1,673 | 14.3% |
| 2025 | 1,686 | 16.0% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Clubman
On a 2015 Clubman, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.9% 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 2015 MINI Clubmans pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 8,063 2015 MINI Clubman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 MINI Clubman?
Tyres, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.1%).
Does the 2015 Clubman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 18.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,063 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.