Mini First MOT failures and reliability
In 2023 the Mini First took 1,623 MOT tests in Britain and passed 74% of them first time, close to the national average of 71% for all cars. The figures below come from the DVSA's record of every test, so they show what testers actually found on these cars rather than what owners report.
- MOT tests in 2023
- 1,623
- First-time pass rate
- 74%
- All cars
- 71%
What the First fails on
Share of tests with at least one failure in each area, against the figure for all cars.
- Lights and electrics13.9% (all cars 11.3%)
- Visibility5.1% (all cars 4.8%)
- Tyres4.4% (all cars 6.4%)
- Brakes4.4% (all cars 6.8%)
- Exhaust and emissions4.0% (all cars 3.1%)
- Suspension3.4% (all cars 9.0%)
- Body and structure1.6% (all cars 3.5%)
- Seat belts and airbags0.4% (all cars 1.0%)
Most common failure items
Share of tests on which each item was recorded.
- Position lamp: not working 4.4%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively 3.2%
- Stop lamp: not working 3.0%
- Rear fog lamp: not working 1.7%
- Headlamp aim: too low 1.7%
- Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction 1.7%
- Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps 1.7%
- Headlamp aim: too high 1.4%
Most common advisories
- Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 15.7%
- Tyres, condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 12.7%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened 12.4%
- Brake pads: wearing thin 6.3%
- Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive 4.4%
- Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases 3.5%
- Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened 3.4%
- Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread 3.1%
Pass rate by year of registration
Older cars fail more often whatever the model, so compare a car with others of the same age.
| First registered | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 434 | 77% |
| 2013 | 830 | 75% |
Typical mileage by age
Average odometer reading at the MOT, by the car's age in years at the test.
| Age at test | Average mileage |
|---|---|
| 10 years | 62,433 miles |
| 11 years | 68,493 miles |
| 12 years | 73,230 miles |
| 13 years | 83,262 miles |
Check a particular First
Model figures tell you what to look out for. To see one car's own MOT history, mileage and tax, enter its registration.
Other Mini models
- Mini Mini
- Mini Cooper
- Mini Countryman
- Mini ONE
- Mini Clubman
- Mini John Cooper Works
- Mini Paceman
- Mini Roadster
- Mini Cooper SD
Source: Department for Transport, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023, cars and light vans, normal tests only. Pass rates are first-time passes; a pass after repair at the test station counts as a fail. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.