MINI Roadster: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The MINI Roadster passes its MOT first time 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 2,707 individual MINI Roadster tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate84.9%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+8.2 points
Tests analysed2,707
Average mileage at test51,876 miles
Average year of manufacture2014
Reliability rank1,245 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 84.9% first-time pass rate means roughly 15 in every 100 MINI Roadsters presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average MINI Roadster tested had covered 51,876 miles and was built around 2014.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The MINI Roadster sits 8.2 points above the national average, ranked 1,245 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

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. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific MINI Roadster 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 Roadsters at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a MINI Roadster

  1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.1% of tests (2.19x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 0.6% of tests (1.52x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1% of tests (1.31x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.1% of tests
  5. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.6% of tests
  6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.5% of tests
  7. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.4% of tests
  8. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 1.4% of tests
  9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.1% of tests
  10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1% of tests

From 2,692 DVSA-tracked MINI Roadster tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.41% of these flagged MINI Roadster defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a MINI Roadster

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 Roadster before it actually fails on it.

  1. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 5.5% of tests (5.12x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 16.8% of tests (1.37x the national rate for this advisory)
  3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 21.4% of tests, also fails
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 16.2% of tests, also fails
  5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 6.7% of tests, also fails
  6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 4.5% of tests, also fails
  7. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3.2% of tests, also fails
  8. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3.2% of tests, also fails
  9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 2.6% of tests
  10. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 2.1% of tests

From 2,692 DVSA-tracked MINI Roadster tests, 2024.

MINI Roadster pass rate by model year

From its 2013 to its 2015 model year, the MINI Roadster's first-time pass rate has risen 1.8 points, from 83.7% to 85.5%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each MINI Roadster year:

MINI Roadster by fuel type

The MINI Roadster's two most-tested fuel types split by 5.5 points: petrol passes first time 85.8% of the time (2,346 tests) against 80.3% for diesel (355 tests).

Other MINI models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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MINI Roadster MOT pass rate badge: 84.9%

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MINI Roadster most common MOT failure: A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage (2.1% of tests)

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/mini-roadster"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/mini-roadster.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="MINI Roadster most common MOT failure: A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage (2.1% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate