2009 MINI One — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,262 MOT tests, the 2009 MINI One recorded a 70.1% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 2009 One comes out 3.6pp worse. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: emissions & environmental, recorded in 22.8% of tests against 12.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 1,135 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.7% in the 0-30k band and 35.6% in the 120-150k band, a 22.9-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 34.4% 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% | 516 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 279 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.5% | 103 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.8% | 85 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 77 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 70 |
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 | 1,135 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 158 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 121 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 100 |
| 5 | Wipers | 59 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 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 | 28.0% | 634 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.7% | 604 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.0% | 498 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.6% | 308 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 302 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.5% | 282 |
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 | 63 | 12.7% |
| 30-60k | 477 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 986 | 30.1% |
| 90-120k | 615 | 38.4% |
| 120-150k | 115 | 35.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 396 | 25.5% |
| 2022 | 442 | 27.4% |
| 2023 | 461 | 31.0% |
| 2024 | 495 | 30.5% |
| 2025 | 468 | 34.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 One
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 22.8% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.5% 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 2009 MINI Ones pass their MOT?
70.1% of the 2,262 2009 MINI One MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 MINI One?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 22.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.3%).
Does the 2009 One get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.7% in the 0-30k band to 35.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,262 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.