Know Your MOT

MOT failure rate and common problems for the MINI D, and how to check your own car by registration.

Updated 05 September 2026.

16.2%fail rate

MINI D MOT failure rate

What a MINI D fails its MOT on, and the part that fixes each.

What it fails on, and why

Lamps & electrical33.3% of failures

Lighting is the single most common MOT failure and the cheapest to put right. A blown headlight, brake-light or number-plate bulb, a cracked lens, or a headlamp beam that points too high or low will all fail. Most are a two-minute bulb swap.

Brakes16.7% of failures

Brake failures cover worn pads and discs, an imbalance between wheels, corroded or scored discs, or a binding caliper. Braking efficiency is measured on a rolling road, so a spongy or pulling brake shows up as a low reading.

Tyres16.7% of failures

Tyres fail for tread below the 1.6mm legal limit across the central three-quarters, uneven or exposed-cord wear, or sidewall damage. The tester inspects all four; a single illegal tyre is a fail.

Suspension16.7% of failures

Suspension failures usually mean a worn or snapped coil spring, a leaking shock absorber, or play in a lower arm ball joint or bush. The tester checks for corrosion, fractures and excessive movement. A broken front spring is one of the most common failures on higher-mileage cars and is a straightforward replacement.

The parts that fix each

If your car has just failed, you have 10 working days to fix the items and get a free partial retest. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the lamps & electrical failure: MINI D headlight and indicator bulbsShop MINI D headlight and indicator bulbs on AmazonaffiliateFind MINI D headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the brakes failure: MINI D brake pads and discsShop MINI D brake pads and discs on AmazonaffiliateFind MINI D brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: MINI D tyresShop MINI D tyres on AmazonaffiliateFind MINI D tyres on eBayaffiliate
For the suspension failure: MINI D suspension springs and shock absorbersShop MINI D suspension springs and shock absorbers on AmazonaffiliateFind MINI D suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate

Other models

All MINI models MOT failure rates comparedRanked worst to bestMINI MINI MOT failures25.6% failure rateMINI Cooper MOT failures13.9% failure rateFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rate

Questions and answers

What is the MOT failure rate of the MINI D?

It fails 16.2% of its MOT tests across the DVSA record, from 74 tests.

What do these cars fail their MOT on most?

The most common failure area is lamps & electrical, at 33.3% of this model's failures.