2013 MINI One — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 43,759 MOT tests, the 2013 MINI One recorded an 84.9% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (21.1% fail rate), the 2013 One comes out 6.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.3% of all tests — 6.3 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,727 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.3% versus 7.7%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.0pp more often than petrol ones (17.0% vs 15.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 4,929 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.0% | 2,189 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.0% | 2,174 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.5% | 1,523 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.5% | 1,079 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 823 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 1,727 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,690 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,456 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,331 |
| 5 | Washers | 996 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 875 |
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 | 25.9% | 11,344 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.9% | 9,162 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 4,764 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.3% | 4,529 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.8% | 2,961 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.5% | 2,410 |
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 | 3,524 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 18,351 | 12.4% |
| 60-90k | 16,101 | 17.2% |
| 90-120k | 4,845 | 22.0% |
| 120-150k | 840 | 24.5% |
| 150k+ | 95 | 25.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 40,789 | 15.0% |
| Diesel | 2,970 | 17.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,641 | 12.7% |
| 2022 | 8,747 | 14.0% |
| 2023 | 8,862 | 15.3% |
| 2024 | 8,796 | 16.5% |
| 2025 | 8,713 | 17.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 One
On a 2013 One, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (5.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (5.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2013 MINI Ones pass their MOT?
84.9% of the 43,759 2013 MINI One MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 MINI One?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.3% of tests, followed by visibility (5.0%).
Does the 2013 One get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 25.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 43,759 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.