2011 MINI Mini (R58) — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 MINI Mini (R58) passed 82.0% of its 4,085 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (23.1% fail rate), the 2011 Mini (R58) comes out 5.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests against 4.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and washers — position lamp alone was recorded 392 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.1% versus 10.4%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 17.5% fail against 19.1% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 4,081 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 589 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.7% | 191 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.4% | 179 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.1% | 167 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.0% | 164 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 93 |
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 | 392 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 152 |
| 3 | Washers | 114 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 111 |
| 5 | Wipers | 104 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 90 |
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 | 24.0% | 981 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.2% | 745 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.5% | 594 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 465 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.9% | 243 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 235 |
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 | 134 | 10.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,164 | 14.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,688 | 19.3% |
| 90-120k | 781 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 240 | 22.5% |
| 150k+ | 78 | 23.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,772 | 17.5% |
| Diesel | 1,309 | 19.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 848 | 15.9% |
| 2022 | 863 | 18.7% |
| 2023 | 826 | 18.0% |
| 2024 | 790 | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 758 | 19.3% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Mini (R58)
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% 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 (4.4% 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
How many 2011 MINI Mini (R58)s pass their MOT?
82.0% of the 4,085 2011 MINI Mini (R58) MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 MINI Mini (R58)?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by tyres (4.7%).
Does the 2011 Mini (R58) get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.4% in the 0-30k band to 23.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,085 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.