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MINIUsed-car reliability

How reliable is a used MINI?

At 7 years old, the average MINI fails its MOT less often than the average UK car.

Where to start

The lowest and highest fail rates in the MINI range

The MINI models whose MOT tests at 7 years old most and least often ended in a fail.

Lowest fail rates

  1. 1MINI CountrymanMINI CountrymanSUV · 14,642 MOT tests at 7 years old12.5%fail rate
  2. 2MINI ClubmanMINI ClubmanEstate · 8,650 MOT tests at 7 years old15.4%fail rate

What actually goes wrong

What breaks on MINI cars

The most common MOT faults across the MINI range, in plain English. Models with more MOT tests count for more. The percentage is the share of MOT tests on MINI cars that recorded that defect.

17.3%

Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

A tyre is worn, cut, damaged or otherwise not fit for the road. Tyres are the only thing connecting the car to the road, so this is always worth taking seriously.

12.8%

Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

A tyre is worn, cut, damaged or otherwise not fit for the road. Tyres are the only thing connecting the car to the road, so this is always worth taking seriously.

8.2%

Brake linings and pads

Brake pads or linings are worn, contaminated, or missing. These are the friction materials that press against the disc or drum to slow the car. When too thin, stopping distances increase.

MOT wording: Brake pads wearing thin

6.6%

Brake disc or drum

A brake disc or drum is excessively worn, scored, cracked, warped, or corroded. These are the rotating parts that the pads or shoes press against to slow the car.

MOT wording: Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Across all MINI models; models with more MOT tests count for more.

The whole range

Every MINI that ranks, in plain English

For each model, one number: the share of its MOT tests at 7 years old that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. Lower is better. Every model here fails less often than the UK average (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%). Only models with enough MOT data at 7 years old are ranked. The rest sit just below, unranked.

2 models

Fail rates are the share of MOT tests on 7-year-old cars ending in a fail, retests included (DVSA MOT results, 2025). UK average across all makes at the same age: 16.6%. How we count fail rates

Not directly comparable with the figures at 7 years old

Shown unranked. These models don’t have enough MOT data at 7 years old yet. They’re either too new (few cars old enough) or too old (few still on the road). Each is shown at the age with the most tests, so the percentages aren’t directly comparable to the list above.

Looking at one in particular?

Averages tell you the odds across the range. Enter a number plate to see that car’s own MOT history, its risk rating, and what’s likely to need attention.