2013 MINI First — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,830 MOT tests, the 2013 MINI First recorded an 85.0% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (20.1% fail rate), the 2013 First comes out 5.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.9% of all tests — 6.9 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and stop lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 218 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.9% in the 0-30k band and 19.4% in the 120-150k band, a 11.5-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 577 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.0% | 243 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.3% | 208 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.6% | 174 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.1% | 148 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 116 |
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 | 218 |
| 2 | Wipers | 191 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 176 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 171 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 103 |
| 6 | Washers | 95 |
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 | 27.3% | 1,319 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.8% | 954 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 476 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.7% | 466 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.3% | 303 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 225 |
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 | 354 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 2,034 | 12.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,762 | 17.4% |
| 90-120k | 560 | 21.6% |
| 120-150k | 98 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 977 | 12.8% |
| 2022 | 980 | 13.9% |
| 2023 | 953 | 13.8% |
| 2024 | 973 | 16.4% |
| 2025 | 947 | 18.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 First
On a 2013 First, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (5.0% 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.
- Tyres (4.3% 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.
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 2013 MINI Firsts pass their MOT?
85.0% of the 4,830 2013 MINI First MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 MINI First?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.9% of tests, followed by visibility (5.0%).
Does the 2013 First get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 19.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,830 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.