2008 MINI One — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 MINI One passed 68.5% of its 1,933 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.3 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 27.2%. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Emissions & environmental dominates the failure mix at 22.8% of all tests — 8.3 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 988 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 39.2% versus 7.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 34.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 22.8% | 440 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 280 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.0% | 135 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 86 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.3% | 84 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.8% | 73 |
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 | 988 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 165 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 137 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 72 |
| 5 | Wipers | 63 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 61 |
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 | 29.9% | 579 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.2% | 564 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.0% | 484 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 23.6% | 457 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 287 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.7% | 168 |
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 | 53 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 229 | 24.9% |
| 60-90k | 760 | 31.3% |
| 90-120k | 738 | 33.9% |
| 120-150k | 148 | 39.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 339 | 28.0% |
| 2022 | 408 | 31.4% |
| 2023 | 396 | 31.6% |
| 2024 | 420 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 370 | 34.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 One
On a 2008 One, emissions & environmental is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 22.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Emissions & environmental (22.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (14.5% 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?
68.5% of the 1,933 2008 MINI One MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 MINI One?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 22.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.5%).
Does the 2008 One get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 39.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,933 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.