2010 MINI First — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 MINI First passed 81.0% of its 762 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), the 2010 First comes out 5.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests against 5.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 67 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.2% in the 30-60k band and 28.6% in the 120-150k band, a 14.4-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 104 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.9% | 45 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 44 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.4% | 41 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.9% | 37 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.0% | 23 |
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 | 67 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 49 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 36 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 30 |
| 5 | Wipers | 29 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 20 |
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 | 28.3% | 216 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.8% | 181 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.8% | 120 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.1% | 115 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 84 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.6% | 73 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 169 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 334 | 18.3% |
| 90-120k | 177 | 20.9% |
| 120-150k | 56 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 162 | 19.1% |
| 2022 | 162 | 17.9% |
| 2023 | 153 | 15.0% |
| 2024 | 147 | 20.4% |
| 2025 | 138 | 23.2% |
What to check before buying a 2010 First
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.9% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (5.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2010 MINI Firsts pass their MOT?
81.0% of the 762 2010 MINI First MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 MINI First?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by brakes (5.9%).
Does the 2010 First get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.2% in the 30-60k band to 28.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 762 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.