2006 MINI One — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 MINI One passed 71.9% of its 1,606 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail at 28.5%, so the 2006 One sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.5% of all tests — 6.3 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and joints — headlamp aim alone was recorded 122 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.3% in the 0-30k band and 32.8% in the 150k+ band, a 22.6-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 50.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.0% in 2021 to 25.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 265 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.2% | 163 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.8% | 157 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.8% | 157 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.1% | 98 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 92 |
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 | 122 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 110 |
| 3 | Joints | 106 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 95 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 91 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 89 |
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 | 50.9% | 817 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.5% | 506 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 28.6% | 459 |
| 4 | Tyres | 28.5% | 458 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.1% | 307 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.6% | 218 |
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 | 39 | 10.3% |
| 30-60k | 154 | 21.4% |
| 60-90k | 484 | 26.5% |
| 90-120k | 614 | 30.0% |
| 120-150k | 250 | 32.8% |
| 150k+ | 64 | 32.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,539 | 27.9% |
| Diesel | 67 | 32.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 334 | 29.0% |
| 2022 | 369 | 29.5% |
| 2023 | 328 | 29.3% |
| 2024 | 317 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 258 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 2006 One
On a 2006 One, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.2% 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+.
- Brakes (9.8% 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 2006 MINI Ones pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 1,606 2006 MINI One MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 MINI One?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (10.2%).
Does the 2006 One get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 0-30k band to 32.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,606 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.