1987 Rover Mini — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 628 MOT tests analysed for the 1987 Rover Mini, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension. Its pass rate of 77.5% was below the average for cars of a similar age (80.5%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 94 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 11.6% | 73 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.5% | 47 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.2% | 45 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.9% | 43 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 37 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non catalyst emissions | 77 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 35 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
| 4 | Washers | 32 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 30 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 30 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 24.0% | 151 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 13.9% | 87 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 67 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.0% | 63 |
| 5 | Tyres | 8.0% | 50 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 36 |
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 | 142 | 16.2% |
| 30-60k | 301 | 23.6% |
| 60-90k | 140 | 27.1% |
| 90-120k | 40 | 17.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 125 | 26.4% |
| 2022 | 147 | 24.5% |
| 2023 | 128 | 21.1% |
| 2024 | 121 | 19.0% |
| 2025 | 107 | 20.6% |
What to check before buying a 1987 Mini
Before buying a 1987 Rover Mini, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 15.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (15.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (11.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (7.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 1987 Rover Minis pass their MOT?
77.5% of the 628 1987 Rover Mini MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1987 Rover Mini?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (11.6%).
Does the 1987 Mini get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.2% in the 0-30k band to 17.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 628 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.