2007 MINI One — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,902 MOT tests, the 2007 MINI One recorded a 68.4% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (27.9% fail rate), the 2007 One comes out 3.7pp worse. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (18.6%) and lighting & signalling (15.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 691 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.6% versus 22.2%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 29.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 18.6% | 353 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 303 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.2% | 155 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.9% | 131 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 92 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 91 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 691 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 192 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 138 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 100 |
| 5 | Wipers | 77 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 58 |
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 | 29.2% | 556 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.6% | 524 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.4% | 502 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 24.7% | 469 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 305 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.7% | 166 |
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 | 54 | 22.2% |
| 30-60k | 296 | 19.3% |
| 60-90k | 793 | 34.2% |
| 90-120k | 600 | 34.7% |
| 120-150k | 109 | 33.9% |
| 150k+ | 49 | 30.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 384 | 29.2% |
| 2022 | 427 | 32.3% |
| 2023 | 386 | 31.6% |
| 2024 | 385 | 33.3% |
| 2025 | 320 | 31.6% |
What to check before buying a 2007 One
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 18.6% of tests. Start there.
- Emissions & environmental (18.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.2% 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 2007 MINI Ones pass their MOT?
68.4% of the 1,902 2007 MINI One MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 MINI One?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 18.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.9%).
Does the 2007 One get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.2% in the 0-30k band to 30.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,902 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.