2017 MINI Countryman — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 MINI Countryman passed 91.3% of its 59,705 recorded MOT tests. Against small SUVs of a similar age (11.8% fail rate), the 2017 Countryman comes out 3.1pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.6%) and visibility (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 1,508 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.6% versus 6.7%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.6% of the time against 9.5% for hybrid.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.6% | 2,735 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.0% | 1,785 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 1,205 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.3% | 793 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 598 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 156 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,508 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,118 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 915 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 800 |
| 5 | Washers | 595 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 344 |
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 | 23.4% | 14,002 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.4% | 5,598 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.6% | 3,920 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.3% | 2,573 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.5% | 1,499 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 247 |
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 | 18,462 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 30,136 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 9,384 | 11.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,443 | 13.6% |
| 120-150k | 211 | 14.7% |
| 150k+ | 66 | 13.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 37,999 | 8.6% |
| Diesel | 16,598 | 8.9% |
| Hybrid | 5,102 | 9.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,932 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 11,857 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 11,911 | 8.4% |
| 2024 | 11,900 | 9.3% |
| 2025 | 12,105 | 10.2% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Countryman
On a 2017 Countryman, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.6% 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 (3.0% 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.
- 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.
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 2017 MINI Countrymans pass their MOT?
91.3% of the 59,705 2017 MINI Countryman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 MINI Countryman?
Tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by visibility (3.0%).
Does the 2017 Countryman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 13.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 59,705 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.