MINI Mini (R57) MOT pass rate & common failures
The MINI Mini (R57) appears in 16,718 MOT tests spanning model years 2001–2020, and 81.5% of them passed. That is 3.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.4%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
Best and worst Mini (R57) years
Ranked across Mini (R57) years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Not every year is equal — 86.4% of 2018 examples pass against 77.6% of 2009 ones.
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.5% of all tests — 6.3 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 1,173 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.5% in the 0-30k band and 22.6% in the 150k+ band, a 11.1-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 18.3% of the time against 18.6% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Mini (R57) model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 87 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 332 | 78.6% | 21.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 282 | 75.5% | 24.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 1,870 | 77.6% | 22.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 3,828 | 81.6% | 18.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 5,456 | 81.7% | 18.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 3,106 | 81.9% | 18.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 164 | 87.2% | 12.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 1,503 | 86.4% | 13.6% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 2,093 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.3% | 1,049 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.1% | 685 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.1% | 686 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.9% | 649 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 444 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 231 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 92 |
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 | 1,173 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 651 |
| 3 | Wipers | 459 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 434 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 410 |
| 6 | Washers | 338 |
| 7 | Brake pads | 304 |
| 8 | Shock absorbers | 301 |
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 | 24.7% | 4,134 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.2% | 3,539 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.8% | 2,641 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 1,789 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.4% | 1,245 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 1,233 |
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 | 1,697 | 11.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,941 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 6,199 | 19.5% |
| 90-120k | 3,667 | 22.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,004 | 22.3% |
| 150k+ | 208 | 22.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,808 | 18.6% |
| Petrol | 7,910 | 18.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,480 | 16.3% |
| 2022 | 3,485 | 18.3% |
| 2023 | 3,417 | 18.9% |
| 2024 | 3,226 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 3,110 | 20.2% |
What to check before buying a MINI Mini (R57)
- Lighting & signalling (12.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.3% 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 (4.1% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the MINI Mini (R57)?
81.5% of the 16,718 MINI Mini (R57) MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 18.5% fail rate, across model years 2001–2020.
What does the MINI Mini (R57) most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.5% of tests, then tyres (6.3%).
Which Mini (R57) years are best and worst for MOT results?
2018 has the best pass rate at 86.4% and 2009 the weakest at 77.6%, from 1,503 and 1,870 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Mini (R57) MOT results?
Fail rates run at 11.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 22.6% for 150k+, a 11.1-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Mini (R57) more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 18.3% of the time against 18.6% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,718 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.