2009 Mini One — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,926 MOT tests analysed for the 2009 Mini One, the most common recorded failure areas were emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 69.5% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (73.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 38.5% in the 120-150k group versus 10.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 23.1% | 445 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 246 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.8% | 93 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.8% | 73 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 66 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 59 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 996 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 138 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 102 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 87 |
| 5 | Wipers | 50 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 50 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 28.6% | 550 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.6% | 531 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.4% | 431 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.5% | 259 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 249 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.5% | 241 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 58 | 10.3% |
| 30-60k | 367 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 871 | 30.9% |
| 90-120k | 533 | 39.0% |
| 120-150k | 91 | 38.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 330 | 26.4% |
| 2022 | 381 | 29.4% |
| 2023 | 391 | 32.5% |
| 2024 | 425 | 30.6% |
| 2025 | 399 | 33.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 One
Before buying a 2009 Mini One, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Emissions & environmental accounted for 23.1% of tests for this year.
- Emissions & environmental (23.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (12.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2009 Mini Ones pass their MOT?
69.5% of the 1,926 2009 Mini One MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Mini One?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 23.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.8%).
Does the 2009 One get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 0-30k band to 38.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,926 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.