MINI Gt MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 36 model years and 3,524 tests, the MINI Gt passes its MOT 91.7% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 11.7% of the time, so this is 3.4pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.3%) and visibility (3.7%) 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 132 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.3% in the 0-30k band and 13.9% in the 90-120k band, a 7.6-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Gt model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1,596 | 91.7% | 8.3% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 1,924 | 91.6% | 8.4% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.3% | 150 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.7% | 130 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 89 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 50 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 30 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.4% | 13 |
| 7 | Suspension | 0.3% | 9 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 132 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 65 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 56 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 46 |
| 5 | Washers | 23 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 22 |
| 7 | Registration plates | 20 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 19 |
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 | 21.9% | 773 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.6% | 268 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.0% | 175 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.6% | 163 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.8% | 65 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 44 |
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 | 1,558 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,608 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 311 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 36 | 13.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 725 | 5.9% |
| 2022 | 715 | 8.1% |
| 2023 | 712 | 9.3% |
| 2024 | 685 | 8.9% |
| 2025 | 687 | 9.6% |
What to check before buying a MINI Gt
- 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.
- Visibility (3.7% 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 (2.5% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the MINI Gt?
91.7% of the 3,524 MINI Gt MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.3% fail rate, across model years 1983–2018.
What does the MINI Gt most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.3% of tests, then visibility (3.7%).
How much does mileage affect Gt MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 13.9% for 90-120k, a 7.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,524 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.