MINI MINI: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The MINI MINI fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 8.2 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 261,157 individual MINI MINI tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 68.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 32 in every 100 MINI MINIs presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average MINI MINI tested had covered 89,692 miles and was built around 2008.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The MINI MINI sits 8.2 points below the national average, ranked 1,793 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. See how it stacks up against the Ford Fiesta.

Looking at a specific MINI MINI rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged MINI MINIs at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a MINI MINI

1. Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, 3.5% of tests (13.04x the national rate for this defect)
2. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 4.1% of tests (11.6x the national rate for this defect)
3. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 2.8% of tests (5.58x the national rate for this defect)
4. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 6.3% of tests (2.85x the national rate for this defect)
5. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 2.9% of tests (2.72x the national rate for this defect)
6. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 6.1% of tests (2.6x the national rate for this defect)
7. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 2.3% of tests (2.26x the national rate for this defect)
8. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 2.2% of tests (1.72x the national rate for this defect)
9. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.5% of tests (1.66x the national rate for this defect)
10. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 2.5% of tests (1.3x the national rate for this defect)

From 263,320 DVSA-tracked MINI MINI tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.45% of these flagged MINI MINI defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a MINI MINI

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a MINI MINI before it actually fails on it.

1. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 20.2% of tests (3.91x the national rate for this advisory)
2. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 20% of tests (3.6x the national rate for this advisory)
3. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 6.2% of tests (3.1x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 3.2% of tests (2.86x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 17.2% of tests (2.77x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
6. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 5.2% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this advisory)
7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.1% of tests (1.56x the national rate for this advisory)
8. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 7.1% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this advisory)
9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 17.9% of tests (1.46x the national rate for this advisory)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 15.4% of tests (1.16x the national rate for this advisory)

From 263,320 DVSA-tracked MINI MINI tests, 2024.

MINI MINI pass rate by model year

From its 2001 to its 2014 model year, the MINI MINI's first-time pass rate has risen 23.3 points, from 60.5% to 83.8%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each MINI MINI year:

• 2001 MINI MINI - 60.5% first-time pass, 1,935 tests
• 2002 MINI MINI - 60.1% first-time pass, 8,002 tests
• 2003 MINI MINI - 61.6% first-time pass, 12,406 tests
• 2004 MINI MINI - 61.2% first-time pass, 17,335 tests
• 2005 MINI MINI - 61.7% first-time pass, 21,566 tests
• 2006 MINI MINI - 62.4% first-time pass, 20,411 tests
• 2007 MINI MINI - 64.4% first-time pass, 24,897 tests
• 2008 MINI MINI - 65.6% first-time pass, 25,479 tests
• 2009 MINI MINI - 68.7% first-time pass, 28,301 tests
• 2010 MINI MINI - 74.7% first-time pass, 30,341 tests
• 2011 MINI MINI - 76.5% first-time pass, 25,851 tests
• 2012 MINI MINI - 80% first-time pass, 22,149 tests
• 2013 MINI MINI - 82.3% first-time pass, 19,173 tests
• 2014 MINI MINI - 83.8% first-time pass, 525 tests

MINI MINI by fuel type

The MINI MINI's two most-tested fuel types split by 6.1 points: petrol passes first time 68.2% of the time (214,900 tests) against 74.3% for diesel (43,594 tests).

• Petrol MINI MINI - 68.2% first-time pass, 214,900 tests
• Diesel MINI MINI - 74.3% first-time pass, 43,594 tests

Other MINI models

• MINI Cooper - 87.9%
• MINI Countryman - 89.1%
• MINI Cooper S - 88.1%
• MINI One - 84.8%
• MINI Clubman - 85.1%
• MINI John Cooper Works - 87.8%
• MINI MINI (R60) - 79%
• MINI Paceman - 86.4%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Alfa Romeo Brera - 68.8%
• Vauxhall Zafira - 68.7%
• Toyota Landcruiser Colorado - 68.6%
• Chevrolet Orlando - 68.5%
• Mazda Eunos - 68.5%
• Suzuki Splash - 68.4%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• Does a car's age affect its MOT pass rate? We checked 32.6 million tests
• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

Embed this data

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate