2011 MINI Countryman — MOT failures & pass rate
16,848 MOT tests on the 2011 MINI Countryman are in this dataset, and 83.2% of them passed. Against small SUVs of a similar age (23.6% fail rate), the 2011 Countryman comes out 6.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.1% of all tests — 5.4 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and tread depth — position lamp alone was recorded 1,141 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.6% in the 0-30k band and 22.0% in the 150k+ band, a 13.5-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 16.7% of the time against 16.9% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 1,876 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.7% | 959 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.5% | 586 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 536 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.1% | 522 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 441 |
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 | 1,141 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 783 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 505 |
| 4 | Washers | 332 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 270 |
| 6 | Wipers | 267 |
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 | 26.5% | 4,456 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.3% | 2,917 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.8% | 2,316 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 1,576 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.8% | 1,490 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 1,138 |
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 | 351 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,754 | 12.3% |
| 60-90k | 6,825 | 15.7% |
| 90-120k | 4,844 | 19.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,702 | 22.4% |
| 150k+ | 368 | 22.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,442 | 16.9% |
| Petrol | 7,406 | 16.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,347 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 3,381 | 15.3% |
| 2023 | 3,406 | 16.2% |
| 2024 | 3,425 | 18.7% |
| 2025 | 3,289 | 19.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Countryman
On a 2011 Countryman, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.7% 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.
- Suspension (3.5% 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 2011 MINI Countrymans pass their MOT?
83.2% of the 16,848 2011 MINI Countryman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 MINI Countryman?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by tyres (5.7%).
Does the 2011 Countryman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 22.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,848 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.