2011 MINI Mini (R60) — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 40,414 MOT tests, the 2011 MINI Mini (R60) recorded an 83.2% pass rate. That is 6.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.1% of all tests — 5.7 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 2,829 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.9% versus 10.0%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 16.6% of the time against 16.9% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.3% 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 | 11.1% | 4,492 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.4% | 2,195 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.8% | 1,542 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.3% | 1,348 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,339 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 1,082 |
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 | 2,829 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,688 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,186 |
| 4 | Washers | 795 |
| 5 | Wipers | 709 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 610 |
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 | 26.5% | 10,713 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.7% | 6,727 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.2% | 5,735 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 3,576 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.7% | 3,520 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 2,681 |
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 | 748 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 7,256 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 16,687 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 11,419 | 19.3% |
| 120-150k | 3,532 | 21.7% |
| 150k+ | 770 | 21.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 21,194 | 16.9% |
| Petrol | 19,220 | 16.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,304 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 8,328 | 16.2% |
| 2023 | 8,160 | 16.3% |
| 2024 | 7,981 | 18.1% |
| 2025 | 7,641 | 19.1% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Mini (R60)
On a 2011 Mini (R60), lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% 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 (3.8% 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
How many 2011 MINI Mini (R60)s pass their MOT?
83.2% of the 40,414 2011 MINI Mini (R60) MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 MINI Mini (R60)?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by tyres (5.4%).
Does the 2011 Mini (R60) get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 21.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 40,414 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.