2013 MINI Paceman — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 MINI Paceman passed 86.7% of its 3,797 recorded MOT tests. That is 7.3 percentage points better than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 20.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.0%) and tyres (6.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 126 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.8% versus 8.1%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 11.6% fail against 14.6% for diesel, a 3.0-point gap across 3,797 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 264 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.4% | 242 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.6% | 100 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.9% | 72 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 69 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 42 |
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 | 126 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 111 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 105 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 54 |
| 5 | Wipers | 44 |
| 6 | Washers | 34 |
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% | 983 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.8% | 598 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.5% | 286 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.2% | 196 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 191 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.4% | 167 |
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 | 136 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,303 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,599 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 607 | 16.6% |
| 120-150k | 124 | 21.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,212 | 14.6% |
| Petrol | 1,585 | 11.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 737 | 12.9% |
| 2022 | 751 | 12.0% |
| 2023 | 764 | 14.4% |
| 2024 | 788 | 13.6% |
| 2025 | 757 | 13.9% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Paceman
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.4% 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.
- Brakes (2.6% 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 2013 MINI Pacemans pass their MOT?
86.7% of the 3,797 2013 MINI Paceman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 MINI Paceman?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by tyres (6.4%).
Does the 2013 Paceman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 21.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,797 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.