2011 MINI Mini (R57) — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 MINI Mini (R57) passed 81.7% of its 5,456 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.2% of all tests — 9.2 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and tread depth — position lamp alone was recorded 509 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.8% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 17.1% of the time against 18.4% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 827 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.0% | 327 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 240 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.1% | 225 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 220 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 69 |
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 | 509 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 215 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 159 |
| 4 | Wipers | 151 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 135 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 124 |
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 | 25.0% | 1,365 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.3% | 1,162 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.3% | 887 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 575 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.1% | 389 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.1% | 387 |
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 | 155 | 10.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,160 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,124 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,456 | 20.8% |
| 120-150k | 490 | 20.8% |
| 150k+ | 69 | 18.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,946 | 18.4% |
| Petrol | 510 | 17.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,124 | 15.9% |
| 2022 | 1,146 | 18.6% |
| 2023 | 1,102 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 1,037 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 1,047 | 20.7% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Mini (R57)
On a 2011 Mini (R57), lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.0% 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.
- Suspension (4.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2011 MINI Mini (R57)s pass their MOT?
81.7% of the 5,456 2011 MINI Mini (R57) MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 MINI Mini (R57)?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by tyres (6.0%).
Does the 2011 Mini (R57) get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 0-30k band to 18.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,456 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.