2016 MINI Paceman — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,334 MOT tests, the 2016 MINI Paceman recorded a 91.6% pass rate. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 14.1% of the time, so this is 5.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.9%) and lighting & signalling (3.4%) 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 brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 186 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.9% in the 0-30k band and 15.9% in the 120-150k band, a 11.0-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 8.2% of the time against 8.7% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.9% | 357 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 247 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.9% | 141 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.4% | 102 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 57 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.6% | 41 |
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 | 186 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 129 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 103 |
| 4 | Washers | 81 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 47 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 39 |
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 | 24.1% | 1,769 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.7% | 931 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.2% | 382 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 261 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 205 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.8% | 204 |
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 | 1,561 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 4,049 | 8.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,390 | 11.5% |
| 90-120k | 281 | 16.4% |
| 120-150k | 44 | 15.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,146 | 8.2% |
| Diesel | 3,188 | 8.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,471 | 6.7% |
| 2022 | 1,464 | 7.7% |
| 2023 | 1,453 | 7.7% |
| 2024 | 1,481 | 9.8% |
| 2025 | 1,465 | 10.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Paceman
On a 2016 Paceman, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.9% 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 2016 MINI Pacemans pass their MOT?
91.6% of the 7,334 2016 MINI Paceman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 MINI Paceman?
Tyres, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.4%).
Does the 2016 Paceman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 15.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,334 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.