1991 Rover Mini — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,769 MOT tests, the 1991 Rover Mini recorded a 76.5% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail at 23.6%, so the 1991 Mini sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.2% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are non catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and component mounting prescribed areas — non catalyst emissions alone was recorded 576 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.1% versus 20.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 23.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.7% in 2021 to 22.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 820 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 9.5% | 549 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.9% | 513 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.5% | 433 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 416 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.2% | 298 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non catalyst emissions | 576 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 311 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 252 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 227 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 206 |
| 6 | Joints | 206 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 23.9% | 1,378 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 14.2% | 817 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.6% | 726 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.3% | 596 |
| 5 | Tyres | 9.5% | 549 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.2% | 357 |
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 | 1,430 | 20.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,743 | 23.0% |
| 60-90k | 2,127 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 452 | 28.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,212 | 25.7% |
| 2022 | 1,233 | 25.3% |
| 2023 | 1,191 | 22.9% |
| 2024 | 1,048 | 20.6% |
| 2025 | 1,085 | 22.3% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Mini
On a 1991 Mini, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (8.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 1991 Rover Minis pass their MOT?
76.5% of the 5,769 1991 Rover Mini MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Rover Mini?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.2% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (9.5%).
Does the 1991 Mini get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.5% in the 0-30k band to 28.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,769 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.