2013 Mini Mini — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 112,384 MOT tests analysed for the 2013 Mini Mini, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes. Its pass rate of 86.0% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (78.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 20.3% in the 150k+ group versus 7.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 9,892 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.5% | 6,157 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.1% | 3,447 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 3,316 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.8% | 3,145 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 1,499 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 4,307 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,249 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,586 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,833 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,800 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,746 |
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% | 29,159 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.8% | 18,931 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.0% | 11,279 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 8,180 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.9% | 7,716 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.6% | 5,146 |
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 | 5,913 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 37,192 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 44,728 | 14.8% |
| 90-120k | 19,027 | 18.0% |
| 120-150k | 4,420 | 20.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,096 | 20.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 63,732 | 14.6% |
| Petrol | 48,652 | 13.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,876 | 11.9% |
| 2022 | 22,612 | 12.8% |
| 2023 | 22,661 | 14.0% |
| 2024 | 22,345 | 15.2% |
| 2025 | 21,890 | 16.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Mini
Before buying a 2013 Mini Mini, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 8.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (8.8% 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.
- Brakes (3.1% 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 2013 Mini Minis pass their MOT?
86.0% of the 112,384 2013 Mini Mini MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mini Mini?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by tyres (5.5%).
Does the 2013 Mini get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 20.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 112,384 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.