2015 MINI Roadster — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 MINI Roadster passed 87.8% of its 6,017 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 16.4% of the time, so this is 4.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.9%) and visibility (5.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, stop lamp and washers — wipers alone was recorded 204 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.9% in the 0-30k band and 23.7% in the 90-120k band, a 16.8-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.1pp more often than petrol ones (14.1% vs 12.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 353 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.1% | 304 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.7% | 285 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.1% | 129 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.1% | 124 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 35 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 204 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 172 |
| 3 | Washers | 140 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 136 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 103 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 100 |
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 | 21.3% | 1,280 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.8% | 1,010 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.1% | 430 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 414 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 4.4% | 267 |
| 6 | Other defects | 3.8% | 226 |
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 | 1,500 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 3,245 | 12.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,072 | 17.0% |
| 90-120k | 173 | 23.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,455 | 12.0% |
| Diesel | 562 | 14.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,200 | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 1,218 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | 1,209 | 12.7% |
| 2024 | 1,193 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 1,197 | 12.9% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Roadster
On a 2015 Roadster, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (5.1% 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 (4.7% 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.
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 2015 MINI Roadsters pass their MOT?
87.8% of the 6,017 2015 MINI Roadster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 MINI Roadster?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by visibility (5.1%).
Does the 2015 Roadster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 23.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,017 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.