2001 Rover Mini — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,270 MOT tests, the 2001 Rover Mini recorded a 79.1% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 28.5% of the time, so this is 7.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and steering.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.1%) and emissions & environmental (6.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, steering rack and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 199 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.4% once past 90-120k — 2.0× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 20.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.0% in 2021 to 18.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 206 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 148 |
| 3 | Steering | 6.3% | 143 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.0% | 136 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.8% | 132 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 102 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 199 |
| 2 | Steering rack | 185 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 114 |
| 4 | Washers | 88 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 86 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 63 |
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 | 20.9% | 475 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 11.9% | 271 |
| 3 | Tyres | 9.1% | 207 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.9% | 179 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 167 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.4% | 100 |
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 | 683 | 16.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,036 | 21.5% |
| 60-90k | 517 | 25.1% |
| 90-120k | 34 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 481 | 20.0% |
| 2022 | 480 | 22.1% |
| 2023 | 468 | 23.1% |
| 2024 | 427 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 414 | 18.1% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Mini
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (6.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Steering (6.3% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
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 2001 Rover Minis pass their MOT?
79.1% of the 2,270 2001 Rover Mini MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Rover Mini?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.1% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (6.5%).
Does the 2001 Mini get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.1% in the 0-30k band to 32.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,270 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.