2012 MINI First — MOT failures & pass rate
2,502 MOT tests on the 2012 MINI First are in this dataset, and 85.0% of them passed. That is 6.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.1% of tests against 4.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 125 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.0% versus 9.7%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 252 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.6% | 114 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.2% | 106 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.3% | 82 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 78 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.0% | 76 |
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 | 125 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 79 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 75 |
| 4 | Wipers | 74 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 47 |
| 6 | Washers | 47 |
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 | 26.0% | 650 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.9% | 524 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.7% | 342 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.5% | 212 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 207 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.4% | 135 |
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 | 124 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 803 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,073 | 16.0% |
| 90-120k | 417 | 20.6% |
| 120-150k | 70 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 526 | 15.8% |
| 2022 | 497 | 13.3% |
| 2023 | 499 | 13.6% |
| 2024 | 516 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 464 | 14.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 First
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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 (4.2% 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.
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 2012 MINI Firsts pass their MOT?
85.0% of the 2,502 2012 MINI First MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 MINI First?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.1% of tests, followed by tyres (4.6%).
Does the 2012 First get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 20.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,502 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.