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Rover Mini: mixed MOT record across 14,177 tests

The Rover Mini is a petrol-powered car sold in the UK market across multiple generations, covering a broad date range in the test population.

MOT data from 14,177 tests puts this car on a 73.1% first-time pass rate, below the UK fleet average. Average mileage at test is 50,620 miles. The most common fail item is steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, followed by brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.

Buyers weighing up a used Mini should treat the failure breakdown as a pre-purchase checklist. The pass rate is reasonable, but the gap between first attempt and a clean sheet narrows with age and mileage.

Top ten reasons for rejection.

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01

Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

880 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
02

Emissions levels exceed default limits

695 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
03

A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated

634 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
04

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

609 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
05

Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.

591 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
06

Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated

554 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
07

Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer

522 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
08

A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

499 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
09

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

465 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
10

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

461 occurrences · 1.5% of tests

Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.

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Recall history

1 UK recall on record.

The Mini has 1 official UK vehicle recall covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.

See all recalls

Buying or keeping a Mini?

Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.

If you own a Mini and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.