2018 MINI Mini (R57) — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,503 MOT tests, the 2018 MINI Mini (R57) recorded an 86.4% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 10.9% of the time, so this is 2.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 11.0% of tests against 2.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 40 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 11.0% | 166 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.5% | 37 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 27 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.3% | 19 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 12 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 40 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 26 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 19 |
| 4 | Washers | 6 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 6 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 4 |
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 | 15.3% | 230 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.1% | 151 |
| 3 | Road wheels | 6.1% | 92 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.0% | 60 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.1% | 31 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 6 |
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 | 1,171 | 12.6% |
| 30-60k | 303 | 16.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 324 | 12.3% |
| 2022 | 306 | 11.8% |
| 2023 | 305 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 279 | 15.4% |
| 2025 | 289 | 15.6% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Mini (R57)
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 11.0% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (11.0% 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.
- Visibility (2.5% 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 (1.8% 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
How many 2018 MINI Mini (R57)s pass their MOT?
86.4% of the 1,503 2018 MINI Mini (R57) MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 MINI Mini (R57)?
Tyres, recorded in 11.0% of tests, followed by visibility (2.5%).
Does the 2018 Mini (R57) get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.6% in the 0-30k band to 16.5% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,503 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.