2002 MINI One — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 MINI One passed 67.7% of its 501 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 29.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 23.5% of all tests — 9.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and srs malfunction indicator lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 95 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.9% in the 30-60k band and 34.9% in the 120-150k band, a 14.0-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 52.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.6% in 2021 to 28.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.5% | 118 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.8% | 69 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 55 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.2% | 51 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.0% | 35 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.8% | 34 |
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 | 95 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 35 |
| 3 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 34 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 32 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 30 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 25 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 52.9% | 265 |
| 2 | Suspension | 39.7% | 199 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.9% | 150 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.8% | 114 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 98 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.0% | 80 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 43 | 20.9% |
| 60-90k | 94 | 29.8% |
| 90-120k | 181 | 35.4% |
| 120-150k | 126 | 34.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 114 | 31.6% |
| 2022 | 122 | 34.4% |
| 2023 | 115 | 33.9% |
| 2024 | 80 | 31.3% |
| 2025 | 70 | 28.6% |
What to check before buying a 2002 One
On a 2002 One, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 23.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (23.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.0% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2002 MINI Ones pass their MOT?
67.7% of the 501 2002 MINI One MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 MINI One?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.5% of tests, followed by brakes (13.8%).
Does the 2002 One get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.9% in the 30-60k band to 34.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 501 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.