2013 MINI Countryman — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 16,005 MOT tests, the 2013 MINI Countryman recorded an 86.8% pass rate. That is 7.5 percentage points better than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 20.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.2%) and tyres (5.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 705 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.8% once past 150k — 3.4× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 12.6% of the time against 13.6% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 1,307 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.9% | 936 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.9% | 461 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.2% | 357 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.0% | 316 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 231 |
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 | 705 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 578 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 386 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 277 |
| 5 | Washers | 221 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 198 |
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 | 26.7% | 4,271 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.3% | 2,613 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.2% | 1,314 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.7% | 1,230 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 884 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 788 |
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 | 839 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 5,287 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 6,694 | 14.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,664 | 17.7% |
| 120-150k | 472 | 19.1% |
| 150k+ | 48 | 20.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,453 | 13.6% |
| Petrol | 6,552 | 12.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,007 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 3,195 | 12.3% |
| 2023 | 3,201 | 13.6% |
| 2024 | 3,298 | 14.3% |
| 2025 | 3,304 | 14.9% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Countryman
On a 2013 Countryman, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.2% 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.
- Brakes (2.9% 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 2013 MINI Countrymans pass their MOT?
86.8% of the 16,005 2013 MINI Countryman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 MINI Countryman?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by tyres (5.9%).
Does the 2013 Countryman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 20.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,005 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.