MINI Mini (R58) MOT pass rate & common failures
The MINI Mini (R58) appears in 11,876 MOT tests spanning model years 2002–2019, and 82.2% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 22.7% of the time, so this is 4.9pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.5% of tests against 4.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and catalyst emissions — position lamp alone was recorded 886 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.6% in the 0-30k band and 26.0% in the 150k+ band, a 17.3-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 17.3% fail against 19.3% for diesel, a 2.0-point gap across 11,872 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Mini (R58) model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 85 | 69.4% | 30.6% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 214 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 316 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 217 | 73.3% | 26.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 193 | 73.1% | 26.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2010 | 597 | 81.4% | 18.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 4,085 | 82.0% | 18.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 5,774 | 83.9% | 16.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 319 | 84.3% | 15.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 1,484 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.7% | 562 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.1% | 486 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.1% | 485 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.0% | 477 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 352 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 154 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 67 |
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 | 886 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 439 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 323 |
| 4 | Washers | 283 |
| 5 | Wipers | 279 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 278 |
| 7 | Stop lamp | 243 |
| 8 | Shock absorbers | 223 |
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 | 23.7% | 2,818 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.0% | 2,375 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.9% | 1,771 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 1,370 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 832 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.0% | 710 |
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 | 578 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 3,920 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 4,686 | 19.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,084 | 22.2% |
| 120-150k | 476 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 127 | 26.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 9,179 | 17.3% |
| Diesel | 2,693 | 19.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,483 | 16.7% |
| 2022 | 2,469 | 17.8% |
| 2023 | 2,395 | 17.0% |
| 2024 | 2,293 | 18.4% |
| 2025 | 2,236 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a MINI Mini (R58)
- 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 (4.7% 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 (R58)?
82.2% of the 11,876 MINI Mini (R58) MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 17.8% fail rate, across model years 2002–2019.
What does the MINI Mini (R58) most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.5% of tests, then tyres (4.7%).
How much does mileage affect Mini (R58) MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 26.0% for 150k+, a 17.3-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Mini (R58) more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 17.3% of the time against 19.3% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,876 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.