2018 MINI Clubman — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 35,188 MOT tests, the 2018 MINI Clubman recorded a 90.2% pass rate. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (10.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.1%) and lighting & signalling (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, stop lamp and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,102 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.3% in the 0-30k band and 17.1% in the 120-150k band, a 9.8-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.7% of the time against 10.7% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.1% | 2,139 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 1,522 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.5% | 525 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 478 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 234 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 139 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 1,102 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 761 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 485 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 456 |
| 5 | Wipers | 345 |
| 6 | Washers | 231 |
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 | 24.6% | 8,661 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.1% | 3,551 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.6% | 1,973 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 1,285 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 2.0% | 694 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 549 |
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 | 15,036 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 16,158 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,527 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 418 | 13.4% |
| 120-150k | 41 | 17.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 29,619 | 9.7% |
| Diesel | 5,569 | 10.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,229 | 8.5% |
| 2022 | 6,990 | 7.7% |
| 2023 | 6,998 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 6,899 | 10.9% |
| 2025 | 7,072 | 12.4% |
What to check before buying a 2018 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 (4.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.5% 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 2018 MINI Clubmans pass their MOT?
90.2% of the 35,188 2018 MINI Clubman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 MINI Clubman?
Tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.3%).
Does the 2018 Clubman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 17.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 35,188 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.