2012 MINI Mini (R58) — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,774 MOT tests, the 2012 MINI Mini (R58) recorded an 83.9% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 21.7% of the time, so this is 5.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.8% of all tests — 6.0 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 348 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.8% once past 120-150k — 4.0× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.7pp more often than petrol ones (19.1% vs 15.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 624 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.8% | 276 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.8% | 222 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.5% | 200 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.5% | 199 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 110 |
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 | 348 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 175 |
| 3 | Wipers | 123 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 123 |
| 5 | Washers | 122 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 118 |
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 | 23.1% | 1,333 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.4% | 1,123 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.4% | 716 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 649 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.3% | 308 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 254 |
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 | 367 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,295 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,190 | 18.3% |
| 90-120k | 764 | 19.4% |
| 120-150k | 130 | 23.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,737 | 15.4% |
| Diesel | 1,037 | 19.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,186 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 1,168 | 15.1% |
| 2023 | 1,164 | 14.3% |
| 2024 | 1,126 | 17.3% |
| 2025 | 1,130 | 19.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Mini (R58)
On a 2012 Mini (R58), lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.8% 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 (3.8% 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 2012 MINI Mini (R58)s pass their MOT?
83.9% of the 5,774 2012 MINI Mini (R58) MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 MINI Mini (R58)?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.8% of tests, followed by tyres (4.8%).
Does the 2012 Mini (R58) get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 23.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,774 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.