2018 MINI Countryman — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 MINI Countryman passed 91.2% of its 76,342 recorded MOT tests. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 9.8% of the time, so this is 1.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.8%) and visibility (3.8%) 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 2,569 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.7% once past 120-150k — 2.3× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 8.2% fail against 9.8% for hybrid, a 1.6-point gap across 62,364 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 3,626 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.8% | 2,924 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 1,607 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.0% | 768 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 431 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 373 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 2,569 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,513 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,094 |
| 4 | Washers | 837 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 736 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 341 |
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 | 23.6% | 17,989 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.8% | 5,967 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.7% | 5,132 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.3% | 3,300 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 1,169 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 205 |
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 | 33,724 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 34,263 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 7,334 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 889 | 16.5% |
| 120-150k | 108 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 50,380 | 8.2% |
| Diesel | 13,978 | 9.8% |
| Hybrid | 11,984 | 9.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,906 | 9.1% |
| 2022 | 15,313 | 7.9% |
| 2023 | 14,978 | 7.8% |
| 2024 | 14,869 | 8.9% |
| 2025 | 15,276 | 10.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Countryman
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.8% 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 (3.8% 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 (2.1% 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 2018 MINI Countrymans pass their MOT?
91.2% of the 76,342 2018 MINI Countryman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 MINI Countryman?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by visibility (3.8%).
Does the 2018 Countryman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 76,342 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.