MINI Mini (R60) MOT pass rate & common failures
74,755 MOT tests on the MINI Mini (R60) (2004–2021) give it an 84.0% pass rate. That is 6.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.7%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.3% of all tests — 4.9 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and tread depth — position lamp alone was recorded 4,434 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.8% in the 0-30k band and 21.0% in the 150k+ band, a 12.2-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 16.0% of the time against 16.1% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Mini (R60) model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 66 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 6,561 | 83.0% | 17.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 40,414 | 83.2% | 16.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 26,227 | 85.3% | 14.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 1,225 | 85.9% | 14.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 100 | 86.0% | 14.0% | Tyres |
| 2015 | 52 | 88.5% | 11.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 49 | 91.8% | 8.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 7,738 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.4% | 4,048 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.5% | 2,600 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.2% | 2,411 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 2,328 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 1,939 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 987 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 360 |
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 | 4,434 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,188 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,058 |
| 4 | Washers | 1,346 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,238 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 1,174 |
| 7 | Brake pads | 1,076 |
| 8 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 938 |
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 | 26.6% | 19,855 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.4% | 12,231 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.2% | 9,892 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.9% | 6,644 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 6,085 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 5,241 |
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 | 1,612 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 14,827 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 31,021 | 15.7% |
| 90-120k | 20,126 | 19.0% |
| 120-150k | 5,852 | 20.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,313 | 21.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 39,914 | 16.0% |
| Petrol | 34,840 | 16.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,410 | 14.0% |
| 2022 | 15,262 | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 15,089 | 15.6% |
| 2024 | 14,740 | 17.3% |
| 2025 | 14,254 | 18.5% |
What to check before buying a MINI Mini (R60)
- Lighting & signalling (10.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.4% 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.
- Brakes (3.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 (R60)?
84.0% of the 74,755 MINI Mini (R60) MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 16.0% fail rate, across model years 2004–2021.
What does the MINI Mini (R60) most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.3% of tests, then tyres (5.4%).
How much does mileage affect Mini (R60) MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 21.0% for 150k+, a 12.2-point difference.
Is the diesel or petrol Mini (R60) more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the diesel fails 16.0% of the time against 16.1% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 74,755 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.