2020 MINI Countryman — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 MINI Countryman passed 92.5% of its 26,827 recorded MOT tests. Small SUVs of a similar age fail at 7.9%, so the 2020 Countryman sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.2%) and visibility (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 840 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 Countryman fails 6.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.1% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.2 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 7.5% of the time against 7.7% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 4.8% of tests failed in 2022 against 7.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.2% | 1,383 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.2% | 867 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 276 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.5% | 138 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.3% | 69 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 35 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 840 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 292 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 286 |
| 4 | Washers | 196 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 146 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 52 |
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 | 20.0% | 5,353 |
| 2 | Other defects | 5.7% | 1,518 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.0% | 1,347 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 987 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 127 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 68 |
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 | 17,428 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 8,753 | 8.7% |
| 60-90k | 606 | 8.6% |
| 90-120k | 37 | 8.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 26,001 | 7.5% |
| Diesel | 689 | 7.7% |
| Hybrid | 132 | 14.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 459 | 4.8% |
| 2023 | 9,091 | 7.9% |
| 2024 | 8,586 | 7.3% |
| 2025 | 8,682 | 7.6% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Countryman
On a 2020 Countryman, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.2% 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 (3.2% 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 (1.0% 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 2020 MINI Countrymans pass their MOT?
92.5% of the 26,827 2020 MINI Countryman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 MINI Countryman?
Tyres, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by visibility (3.2%).
Does the 2020 Countryman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 8.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 26,827 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.