Mini Roadster MOT failures and reliability
In 2023 the Mini Roadster took 2,710 MOT tests in Britain and passed 79% of them first time, above 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
- 2,710
- First-time pass rate
- 79%
- All cars
- 71%
What the Roadster fails on
Share of tests with at least one failure in each area, against the figure for all cars.
- Lights and electrics8.3% (all cars 11.3%)
- Tyres5.8% (all cars 6.4%)
- Visibility5.2% (all cars 4.8%)
- Brakes3.2% (all cars 6.8%)
- Suspension2.1% (all cars 9.0%)
- Wheels0.8% (all cars 0.4%)
- Body and structure0.6% (all cars 3.5%)
- Exhaust and emissions0.4% (all cars 3.1%)
Most common failure items
Share of tests on which each item was recorded.
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively 2.6%
- Stop lamp: not working 2.1%
- Position lamp: not working 2.1%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid 1.6%
- Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak 1.5%
- Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 1.5%
- Tyres, condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 1.2%
- Tyres, condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 1.2%
Most common advisories
- Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 13.9%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened 10.2%
- Tyres, condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 7.9%
- Brake pads: wearing thin 5.7%
- Road Wheels, condition: slightly distorted 3.8%
- Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil 2.9%
- Brake discs: worn, but not excessively 2.2%
- Suspension arms, pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement 1.7%
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 355 | 77% |
| 2014 | 1,204 | 80% |
| 2015 | 1,064 | 79% |
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 |
|---|---|
| 8 years | 44,747 miles |
| 9 years | 48,787 miles |
| 10 years | 53,722 miles |
Check a particular Roadster
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 Cooper SD
- Mini First
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.