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MINI Paceman reliability

A · Excellent

MOT pass rates and common problems from 67,689 MOT tests of cars first registered 2013–2016.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
85.0%pass first time
+7.7 ptsvs typical car
Beats 94%of cars
67,689MOT tests

Verdict

The MINI Paceman passes its MOT first time on 85.0% of tests, 7.7 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (77.3%). That puts it ahead of 94% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

Better than average on lights & electrics, brakes, visibility.

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

60%70%80%90%100%345678910111291%88%86%83%80%
MINI PacemanTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2013
Beats 92%
2014
Beats 94%
2015
Beats 95%
2016
Beats 94%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Petrol2013–201635,91686.3%Beats 95%A
1.6 Diesel2013–201617,29783.0%Beats 92%A
2.0 Diesel2013–201614,47684.4%Beats 95%A

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 1.0% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 1.1% of tests fail on suspension, against 5.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 4.9% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 7.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 5.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 2.5% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 4.9% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 7.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+2.4 ptsTyres: 5.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres0.0 ptsBrakes: 2.5% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+1.9 ptsSuspension: 1.1% of tests fail on suspension, against 5.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+4.3 ptsExhaust: 1.0% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.6 ptsSuspension: 1.1% of tests fail on suspension, against 5.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 2.5% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 5.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 4.9% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 7.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 1.0% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 4.9% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 7.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+2.4 ptsTyres: 5.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres0.0 ptsBrakes: 2.5% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+1.9 ptsSuspension: 1.1% of tests fail on suspension, against 5.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+4.3 ptsExhaust: 1.0% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+0.6 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Tyres: 5.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Tyres
5.9% vs 5.9%
Lights & electrics
4.9% vs 7.3%
Brakes
2.5% vs 4.5%
Visibility
1.8% vs 4.0%
Suspension
1.1% vs 5.4%
Emissions & leaks
1.0% vs 1.6%
Body & structure
0.5% vs 1.6%
Wheels
0.3% vs 0.3%
Seat belts & airbags
0.2% vs 0.4%
Steering
0.1% vs 1.1%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Tyre tread depth
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
  • Brake pads
    Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.
  • Windscreen washers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Sidelights
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

60%70%80%90%100%10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k93%89%85%79%75%
MINI PacemanTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking3.6%3.2%1.1×
Headlight aim2.3%2.2%1.0×
Tyre tread depth1.8%2.2%0.8×
Brake pads1.4%1.9%0.7×
Windscreen washers1.1%1.6%0.7×
Sidelights0.9%1.2%0.7×
Tyre pressure warning (TPMS)0.7%0.7%1.0×
Number plate lights0.7%0.8%0.9×
Windscreen wipers0.5%2.1%0.3×
Headlight bulbs & units0.5%1.3%0.4×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements23.0
A tyre seriously damaged20.9
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements17.8
A tyre cords visible or damaged13.1
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen10.9
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm10.6
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning7.7
A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative6.7
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2016 MINI Paceman3 engines87.6% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Petrol6,04788.2%Beats 94%A
1.6 Diesel2,89886.9%Beats 94%A
2.0 Diesel1,64186.7%Beats 91%A
2015 MINI Paceman3 engines86.7% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Petrol10,85787.9%Beats 97%A
2.0 Diesel4,17585.7%Beats 94%A
1.6 Diesel3,44984.3%Beats 91%A
2014 MINI Paceman3 engines84.0% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Petrol16,58585.0%Beats 95%A
1.6 Diesel9,18682.0%Beats 92%A
2.0 Diesel7,11884.1%Beats 96%A
2013 MINI Paceman3 engines80.8% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Petrol2,42783.1%Beats 95%A
1.6 Diesel1,76478.9%Beats 87%A
2.0 Diesel1,54279.6%Beats 90%A

FAQ

What is the MINI Paceman MOT pass rate?

85.0% of MOT tests on the MINI Paceman were passed first time, based on 67,689 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2013–2016. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 77.3% of the time.

Is the MINI Paceman reliable?

On MOT results it rates A (excellent): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 94% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

What are the most common MOT failures on the MINI Paceman?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, headlight aim, tyre tread depth.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.