2021 MINI Clubman — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 MINI Clubman passed 92.4% of its 406 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (8.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests against 2.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 8 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 24 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 8 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.2% | 5 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 1 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 1 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 1 |
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 | 8 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 6 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 4 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 4 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 2 |
| 6 | Driver's seat | 1 |
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 | 24.4% | 99 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.4% | 34 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.7% | 15 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 1.0% | 4 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 3 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.7% | 3 |
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 | 290 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 114 | 8.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 196 | 8.7% |
| 2025 | 194 | 6.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Clubman
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.9% 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 (2.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2021 MINI Clubmans pass their MOT?
92.4% of the 406 2021 MINI Clubman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 MINI Clubman?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.0%).
Does the 2021 Clubman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 8.8% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 406 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.