2008 Mini One — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,857 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Mini One, the most common recorded failure areas were emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 68.2% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (72.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 39.2% in the 120-150k group versus 4.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 23.2% | 430 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 276 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.0% | 131 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.4% | 82 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.3% | 80 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.9% | 72 |
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 | 960 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 164 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 133 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 71 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 60 |
| 6 | Wipers | 60 |
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 | 30.0% | 558 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.9% | 555 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.3% | 470 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 23.9% | 444 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 277 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.7% | 161 |
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 | 46 | 4.3% |
| 30-60k | 206 | 25.2% |
| 60-90k | 738 | 31.7% |
| 90-120k | 714 | 34.0% |
| 120-150k | 148 | 39.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 324 | 28.7% |
| 2022 | 394 | 32.2% |
| 2023 | 382 | 31.7% |
| 2024 | 405 | 31.6% |
| 2025 | 352 | 34.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 One
Before buying a 2008 Mini One, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Emissions & environmental accounted for 23.2% of tests for this year.
- Emissions & environmental (23.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (14.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.0% 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 2008 Mini Ones pass their MOT?
68.2% of the 1,857 2008 Mini One MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Mini One?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 23.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.9%).
Does the 2008 One get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.3% in the 0-30k band to 39.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,857 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.