2025 MOT results
Rover Mini common problems
The most common reason a Rover Mini fails its MOT is a steering fault, on 10.8% of its 3,035 failed tests in 2025. Against other cars of the same age, 3 faults stand out: a steering fault at 10.8% of failures against 3.4% expected; a weak or uneven footbrake at 9.8% of failures against 5.8% expected; headlamp aim set too high at 6.6% of failures against 4.3% expected.
- Tests in 2025 10,921 Cars aged three and over
- Failed first time 27.8% 3,035 tests
- Found a dangerous defect 4.9% Unsafe to drive away
- Ended with an advisory 38.5% A problem to watch, not a failure
What fails a Rover Mini MOT
Each bar is the share of failed Rover Mini tests with that defect. Where we can compare it with cars of the same registration years, the marker shows what an average car of those ages records (11 of the 12 items below).
Most common reasons for failure
A test can fail for more than one defect, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Steering | 10.8% |
| Non catalyst emissions carbon monoxide content excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 10.6% |
| Service brake imbalance: across an axle Brakes | 9.8% |
| Catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.0% |
| Rear fog lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 8.0% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility | 7.7% |
| Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.2% |
| Parking brake efficiency below requirements Brakes | 7.1% |
| Washers: not working Visibility | 7.1% |
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 6.9% |
| Headlamp aim: too high Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.6% |
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
-
Steering fault
10.8% of failures 3.4% expected 3.2 times as often
A fault in the steering: play, damage, or a component that no longer works as it should.
-
Emissions above the limit
10.6% of failures
The exhaust gases are outside the limits for the car, which can be the catalytic converter, a sensor, or simply a poor state of tune.
A long run before the test helps a catalyst get hot; a persistent failure usually needs a diagnosis.
-
Weak or uneven footbrake
9.8% of failures 5.8% expected 1.7 times as often
The footbrake is either weak overall or pulls unevenly across an axle, which the rolling road measures.
A pull to one side under firm braking, or a long pedal, is the sign to get it looked at before a test.
-
Emissions above the limit
9.0% of failures 6.6% expected somewhat more often
The exhaust gases are outside the limits for the car, which can be the catalytic converter, a sensor, or simply a poor state of tune.
A long run before the test helps a catalyst get hot; a persistent failure usually needs a diagnosis.
-
Rear fog lamp out
8.0% of failures 5.5% expected 1.5 times as often
The rear fog lamp not working. It is tested even though it is rarely used.
Switch it on at the dashboard and check the lamp lights at the back.
-
Washers that do not work
7.7% of failures 5.4% expected somewhat more often
The washers cannot deliver enough liquid to clean the windscreen with the wipers.
Top the bottle up and check both jets reach the glass; the pump is often fine and the jet blocked.
Which parts of the car fail
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the area that most often fails a Rover Mini, on 46.0% of failed tests. The widest gap against cars of the same registration years is noise, emissions and leaks, on 37.0% against 23.5% expected.
Failure categories
DVSA's own sections of the test. The marker is what cars of the same registration years record.
| Defect category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 46.0% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 37.0% |
| Suspension | 29.0% |
| Brakes | 25.7% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 22.2% |
| Visibility | 21.4% |
| Steering | 15.7% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 4.9% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What testers warn about
38.5% of Rover Mini tests ended with at least one advisory: a fault the tester found that did not fail the test. On Rover Minis, these are the items to ask about on a car you are viewing, because they are what the last tester expected to go next.
Most common advisories
Share of all tests, passes included.
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 12.7% |
| Wheel bearings: slight play Suspension | 5.9% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension | 5.5% |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 4.3% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 4.2% |
| Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 3.9% |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes | 3.5% |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension | 2.9% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 2.5% |
| Integral vehicle structure condition: corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Body, chassis, structure | 2.2% |
| Play in steering rack inner joint(s) Non-component advisories | 1.9% |
| Other suspension component: ball joint has slight play Suspension | 1.6% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Rover Mini problems: common questions
What is the most common problem with a Rover Mini?
Of the faults that fail an MOT, “Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” is the most common: it appears on 10.8% of failed Rover Mini tests. Across categories, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the area that most often fails one, on 46.0% of failed tests.
How often does a Rover Mini fail its MOT?
27.8% of Rover Mini tests in 2025 were not passed first time, from 10,921 tests of cars aged three and over. Allowing for the age and mileage of the cars tested, that gives it a UK Motoring Reliability Score of 64 out of 100, where 50 is as expected.
Does anything fail more often on a Rover Mini than on other cars?
Yes. “Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” appears on 10.8% of its failures against 3.4% for cars of the same age, and “Service brake imbalance: across an axle” appears on 9.8% of its failures against 5.8% for cars of the same age. Where an item is missing from the national figures for a year, we use the smallest share those figures show, so the comparison never overstates the difference.
Are these the same as breakdowns or known faults?
No. These are the items a tester recorded at the MOT, which covers condition and safety: lamps, brakes, tyres, suspension, corrosion and emissions. A gearbox that is unpleasant, an infotainment screen that has died, or a car that will not start on a cold morning are not part of the test, so they are not in these figures.
Where do the figures come from?
Every normal MOT test of a Rover Mini aged three and over in Great Britain in 2025, from DVSA's anonymised MOT results. Retests are excluded, and the same fault on more than one wheel counts once.
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT defects and advisories | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 10,921 MOT tests | 19 September 2026 |
- Shares for defects are of failed tests; shares for advisories are of all tests. A test can carry several defects, so shares add to more than 100%.
- The expected share is what an average car of the same registration years records, weighted by where this model’s failures fall. Where an item is outside the national figures for a year, the smallest share those figures show is used in its place, which is an upper bound, so the comparison never overstates a model’s problems. No expectation is published where less than 80% of the model’s failures can be compared.
- Great Britain only: DVSA does not run MOT testing in Northern Ireland. Cars under three years old are not tested.
- The descriptions of what each part does are general and the same on every model. Every figure comes from the MOT data.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.