2015 Mini Roadster — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,017 MOT tests analysed for the 2015 Mini Roadster, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres. Its pass rate of 87.8% was above the average for cars of a similar age (84.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 23.7% in the 90-120k group versus 6.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 353 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.1% | 304 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.7% | 285 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.1% | 129 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.1% | 124 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 35 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 204 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 172 |
| 3 | Washers | 140 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 136 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 103 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 100 |
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 | 21.3% | 1,280 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.8% | 1,010 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.1% | 430 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 414 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 4.4% | 267 |
| 6 | Other defects | 3.8% | 226 |
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 | 1,500 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 3,245 | 12.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,072 | 17.0% |
| 90-120k | 173 | 23.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,455 | 12.0% |
| Diesel | 562 | 14.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,200 | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 1,218 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | 1,209 | 12.7% |
| 2024 | 1,193 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 1,197 | 12.9% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Roadster
Before buying a 2015 Mini Roadster, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 5.9% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (5.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (5.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (4.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2015 Mini Roadsters pass their MOT?
87.8% of the 6,017 2015 Mini Roadster MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Mini Roadster?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by visibility (5.1%).
Does the 2015 Roadster get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 23.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,017 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.