2012 MINI Mini (R60) — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 MINI Mini (R60) passed 85.3% of its 26,227 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (21.7% fail rate), the 2012 Mini (R60) comes out 7.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests against 5.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and tread depth — position lamp alone was recorded 1,173 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.0% in the 0-30k band and 19.7% in the 150k+ band, a 11.7-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 14.7% of the time against 14.7% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 2,400 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.5% | 1,452 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.0% | 797 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.0% | 786 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 697 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 582 |
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 | 1,173 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,132 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 667 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 402 |
| 5 | Wipers | 394 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 382 |
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 | 26.9% | 7,054 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.8% | 4,141 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.5% | 3,027 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.9% | 2,338 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 1,898 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 1,573 |
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 | 652 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 6,098 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 11,066 | 14.5% |
| 90-120k | 6,372 | 18.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,652 | 18.9% |
| 150k+ | 386 | 19.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 15,360 | 14.7% |
| Petrol | 10,867 | 14.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,373 | 12.8% |
| 2022 | 5,266 | 13.2% |
| 2023 | 5,282 | 14.3% |
| 2024 | 5,185 | 16.0% |
| 2025 | 5,121 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Mini (R60)
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.5% 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.
- Suspension (3.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 (R60)s pass their MOT?
85.3% of the 26,227 2012 MINI Mini (R60) MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 MINI Mini (R60)?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by tyres (5.5%).
Does the 2012 Mini (R60) get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 19.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 26,227 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.