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MINI reliability and car history check

MINI models checked on CarCheckUp, most checked first. The most popular have their own page with MOT pass rates, common MOT failures and typical mileage from our checks. See the MINI MOT pass rate and common problems.

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118 models, most checked first.

MINI reliability: MOT pass rate and history data

What the MOT records of 6,809 MINI vehicles checked on CarCheckUp show.

  • 78%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
  • 6,000typical miles a year
  • 4.6%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
  • 2008–2016built (middle half)

MINI common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories

The defects MOT testers record most often on MINI vehicles, as a share of all their MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once).

Top 19 MINI MOT failures

Reasons the vehicle failed its MOT.

  1. Position lamp not working2.7%
  2. Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively2.4%
  3. Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%
  4. Headlamp aim too low1.7%
  5. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid1.1%
Show all 19
  1. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.1%
  2. Headlamp aim too high1.1%
  3. Registration plate lamp not working1.0%
  4. Stop lamp not working1.0%
  5. Tyre has ply or cords exposed0.9%
  6. Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.8%
  7. Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.7%
  8. Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits0.7%
  9. Brake pipe excessively corroded0.7%
  10. Parking brake efficiency below requirements0.6%
  11. Track rod end ball joint has excessive play0.6%
  12. Service brake excessively binding0.5%
  13. Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect0.5%
  14. Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases0.5%

Top 20 MINI MOT advisories

Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.

  1. Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge6.6%
  2. Oil leak, but not excessive5.4%
  3. Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened5.3%
  4. Brake pad wearing thin5.2%
  5. Tyre worn close to the legal limit4.7%
Show all 20
  1. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing2.9%
  2. Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material2.0%
  3. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources2.0%
  4. Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened1.9%
  5. Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.8%
  6. Brake pipe slightly corroded1.5%
  7. Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread1.4%
  8. Service brake binding but not excessively1.4%
  9. Nail in tyre1.1%
  10. Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement1.1%
  11. Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases1.1%
  12. Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'1.0%
  13. Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt1.0%
  14. Coil spring corroded1.0%
  15. Road wheel slightly distorted0.9%

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of 6,809 MINI vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp (87,865 tests, retests included). Updated . Vehicles people check before buying are not a random sample of the UK fleet. Every MOT test for one vehicle is in the free MOT history check; market-wide figures are in the UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.