Verdict
The MINI Roadster passes its MOT first time on 82.0% of tests, 3.2 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (78.8%). That puts it ahead of 72% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2012 Roadster does best (beats 83% of cars) and the 2015 worst (beats 63%).
Better than average on brakes, suspension, emissions & leaks.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
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.
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.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 82.3% | Beats 73% | B |
| 2.0 Diesel | 79.0% | Beats 69% | B |
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.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Shock absorbers 2.3× typical
Push down hard on each corner: it should rebound once and settle. Look for oily dampers. - Tyre damage & cracking
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre. - Windscreen wipers
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail. - Brake lights
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid. - 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.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyre damage & cracking | 3.1% | 2.9% | 1.1× |
| Windscreen wipers | 2.8% | 2.1% | 1.3× |
| Windscreen washers | 2.1% | 1.5% | 1.4× |
| Brake lights | 1.8% | 1.4% | 1.3× |
| Headlight aim | 1.7% | 2.0% | 0.9× |
| Shock absorbers | 1.4% | 0.6% | 2.3× |
| Sidelights | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.2× |
| Tyre tread depth | 1.3% | 1.7% | 0.8× |
| Brake pads | 0.9% | 1.6% | 0.6× |
| Number plate lights | 0.8% | 0.6% | 1.2× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 27.8 |
| A tyre seriously damaged | 21.5 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 21.1 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 17.3 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 17.3 |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 13.7 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 13.1 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 12.7 |
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.
2015 MINI Roadster1 engine83.0% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 83.0% | Beats 63% | B |
2014 MINI Roadster2 engines82.6% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 83.3% | Beats 79% | B |
| 2.0 Diesel | 79.0% | Beats 69% | B |
2013 MINI Roadster1 engine79.2% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 79.2% | Beats 70% | B |
2012 MINI Roadster1 engine78.5% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 78.5% | Beats 83% | A |
FAQ
What is the MINI Roadster MOT pass rate?
82.0% of MOT tests on the MINI Roadster were passed first time, based on 24,016 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2012–2015. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 78.8% of the time.
Is the MINI Roadster reliable?
On MOT results it rates B (good): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 72% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which MINI Roadster year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2012 Roadster does best for its age and mileage: it beats 83% of cars on UK roads. The 2015 does worst: it beats 63%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the MINI Roadster?
The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, windscreen wipers, windscreen washers. Compared with similar cars, shock absorbers comes up 2.3× as often.