2012 MINI Mini (R59) — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,227 MOT tests, the 2012 MINI Mini (R59) recorded an 83.9% pass rate. That is 5.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests against 5.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 70 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.9% in the 0-30k band and 19.1% in the 120-150k band, a 11.2-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 15.4% of the time against 16.8% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 143 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.9% | 72 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.4% | 66 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.4% | 42 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.1% | 38 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 16 |
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 | 70 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 47 |
| 3 | Wipers | 43 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 29 |
| 5 | Washers | 28 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 28 |
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 | 25.9% | 318 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.9% | 244 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.0% | 147 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 93 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 5.1% | 62 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 60 |
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 | 89 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 394 | 12.7% |
| 60-90k | 509 | 17.9% |
| 90-120k | 187 | 20.3% |
| 120-150k | 42 | 19.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 615 | 16.8% |
| Petrol | 612 | 15.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 252 | 15.1% |
| 2022 | 263 | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 245 | 16.3% |
| 2024 | 248 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 219 | 14.6% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Mini (R59)
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.9% 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 (5.4% 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 2012 MINI Mini (R59)s pass their MOT?
83.9% of the 1,227 2012 MINI Mini (R59) MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 MINI Mini (R59)?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by tyres (5.9%).
Does the 2012 Mini (R59) get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 19.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,227 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.