2017 MINI Paceman — MOT failures & pass rate
736 MOT tests on the 2017 MINI Paceman are in this dataset, and 91.7% of them passed. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 11.8% of the time, so this is 3.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.7%) and lighting & signalling (3.8%) 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 22 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.3% in the 0-30k band and 15.9% in the 60-90k band, a 7.6-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 10.9% in 2021 to 8.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 42 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 28 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.5% | 11 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 11 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.3% | 2 |
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 | 22 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 15 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 8 |
| 4 | Washers | 6 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 5 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 4 |
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 | 23.0% | 169 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.5% | 99 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.4% | 25 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 24 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 10 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.2% | 9 |
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 | 291 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 326 | 5.8% |
| 60-90k | 107 | 15.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 390 | 8.0% |
| Petrol | 346 | 8.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 156 | 10.9% |
| 2022 | 150 | 7.3% |
| 2023 | 137 | 5.1% |
| 2024 | 147 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 146 | 8.9% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Paceman
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.7% 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 (3.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.5% 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.
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 2017 MINI Pacemans pass their MOT?
91.7% of the 736 2017 MINI Paceman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 MINI Paceman?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.8%).
Does the 2017 Paceman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 15.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 736 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.