MINI Mini (R59) MOT pass rate & common failures
1,498 MOT tests on the MINI Mini (R59) (2007–2013) give it an 83.2% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 21.9% of the time, so this is 5.1pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.6% of all tests — 6.3 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, wipers and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 103 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.5% in the 0-30k band and 22.2% in the 120-150k band, a 14.7-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.8pp more often than petrol ones (17.6% vs 15.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Mini (R59) model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 184 | 78.8% | 21.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 1,227 | 83.9% | 16.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 42 | 85.7% | 14.3% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 188 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.3% | 94 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.2% | 78 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.7% | 55 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.3% | 49 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 21 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 16 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 11 |
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 | 103 |
| 2 | Wipers | 52 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 51 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 42 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 37 |
| 6 | Washers | 34 |
| 7 | Shock absorbers | 26 |
| 8 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 26 |
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 | 26.0% | 390 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.6% | 309 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.0% | 195 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 119 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.6% | 84 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 5.1% | 77 |
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 | 93 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 473 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 618 | 18.1% |
| 90-120k | 235 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 63 | 22.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 771 | 17.6% |
| Petrol | 727 | 15.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 307 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 324 | 16.7% |
| 2023 | 293 | 15.4% |
| 2024 | 305 | 20.3% |
| 2025 | 269 | 16.4% |
What to check before buying a MINI Mini (R59)
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.3% 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 (5.2% 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 (R59)?
83.2% of the 1,498 MINI Mini (R59) MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 16.8% fail rate, across model years 2007–2013.
What does the MINI Mini (R59) most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.6% of tests, then tyres (6.3%).
How much does mileage affect Mini (R59) MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 22.2% for 120-150k, a 14.7-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Mini (R59) more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 15.8% of the time against 17.6% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,498 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.