2016 MINI Clubman — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 MINI Clubman passed 87.3% of its 51,215 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (13.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.1%) 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 1,367 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.5% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 12.6% of the time against 12.8% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.1% 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 | 6.1% | 3,141 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 2,639 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.5% | 1,286 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.1% | 1,069 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.8% | 902 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 305 |
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 | 1,367 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,036 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 899 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 878 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 789 |
| 6 | Wipers | 722 |
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 | 26.0% | 13,309 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.7% | 6,524 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.8% | 2,950 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.6% | 2,356 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 2,171 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 2.5% | 1,253 |
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 | 7,371 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 26,531 | 12.0% |
| 60-90k | 13,602 | 15.0% |
| 90-120k | 3,076 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 512 | 20.7% |
| 150k+ | 122 | 20.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 31,256 | 12.8% |
| Diesel | 19,959 | 12.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,996 | 10.1% |
| 2022 | 10,075 | 11.1% |
| 2023 | 10,301 | 12.7% |
| 2024 | 10,292 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 10,551 | 16.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Clubman
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.1% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.1% 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.
- 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 (2.5% 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 2016 MINI Clubmans pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 51,215 2016 MINI Clubman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 MINI Clubman?
Tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.1%).
Does the 2016 Clubman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 20.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 51,215 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.