MINI Clubvan MOT pass rate & common failures
The MINI Clubvan appears in 1,986 MOT tests spanning model years 1982–2020, and 84.4% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 18.8% of the time, so this is 3.2pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.2% of tests against 5.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and washers — position lamp alone was recorded 85 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.0% in the 0-30k band and 20.3% in the 150k+ band, a 13.3-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Clubvan model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 600 | 83.8% | 16.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 1,334 | 84.7% | 15.3% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 202 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.9% | 117 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.4% | 107 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.3% | 86 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.3% | 66 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 19 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.5% | 11 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 9 |
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 | 85 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 78 |
| 3 | Washers | 68 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 59 |
| 5 | Wipers | 56 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 54 |
| 7 | Shock absorbers | 44 |
| 8 | Brake pads | 33 |
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 | 22.3% | 442 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.8% | 414 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.1% | 300 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 183 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.9% | 137 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.5% | 110 |
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 | 57 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 440 | 12.3% |
| 60-90k | 631 | 17.0% |
| 90-120k | 524 | 15.5% |
| 120-150k | 211 | 18.0% |
| 150k+ | 123 | 20.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,509 | 16.0% |
| Petrol | 477 | 14.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 410 | 14.6% |
| 2022 | 393 | 12.5% |
| 2023 | 399 | 15.8% |
| 2024 | 391 | 15.9% |
| 2025 | 393 | 19.1% |
What to check before buying a MINI Clubvan
- Lighting & signalling (10.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Visibility (5.4% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the MINI Clubvan?
84.4% of the 1,986 MINI Clubvan MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 15.6% fail rate, across model years 1982–2020.
What does the MINI Clubvan most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.2% of tests, then tyres (5.9%).
How much does mileage affect Clubvan MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 20.3% for 150k+, a 13.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,986 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.