2010 MINI One — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,140 MOT tests, the 2010 MINI One recorded a 79.8% pass rate. That is 5.0 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 25.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests against 6.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 372 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.1% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
The diesel cars hold up better: 17.9% fail against 20.8% for petrol, a 2.8-point gap across 4,140 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 626 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 262 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.9% | 201 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.7% | 196 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 188 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.5% | 143 |
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 | 372 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 361 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 248 |
| 4 | Wipers | 133 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 101 |
| 6 | Washers | 96 |
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 | 27.0% | 1,119 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.3% | 1,007 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.5% | 765 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 599 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.0% | 539 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.3% | 344 |
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 | 145 | 11.0% |
| 30-60k | 831 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,574 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,141 | 23.8% |
| 120-150k | 346 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 103 | 29.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,382 | 20.8% |
| Diesel | 758 | 17.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 771 | 18.6% |
| 2022 | 802 | 18.1% |
| 2023 | 840 | 20.4% |
| 2024 | 884 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 843 | 22.5% |
What to check before buying a 2010 One
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (6.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (4.9% 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 2010 MINI Ones pass their MOT?
79.8% of the 4,140 2010 MINI One MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 MINI One?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (6.3%).
Does the 2010 One get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.0% in the 0-30k band to 29.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,140 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.