MINI Roadster years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

2,242 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2014–2015 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

Both MINI Roadster years have MOT pass rates above the average for vehicles first used in the same year.

Below the average for their first-use yearNone
Above the average for their first-use year2014–2015
Can't be told apart from averageNone

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

78.7%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 77.0% to 80.4%.

MINI Roadster, all years78.7%
Same-age average, all vehicles70.1%

In 2025, 78.7% of the 2,242 initial MOT tests on MINI Roadster cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 70.1%. That is 8.6 points above the same-age average.

Check a specific Roadster

Its own MOT history, free.

MINI Roadster MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Chart	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2015age 10		1,05150,300	79.9%±2.6	+8.0 ptsall: 71.9%
2014age 11		1,19153,900	77.7%±2.5	+9.1 ptsall: 68.6%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Common Roadster problems at the MOT

Share of the 477 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these can add up to more than 100%.

Lights and electrics41.1%
Tyres23.5%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors21.4%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems.

What to check when viewing a Roadster

Based on the areas where MINI Roadster MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Lights and electrics
In 41.1% of failed Roadster tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Check the dashboard warning lights come on when the car is switched on and then go out. Ask about any that stay lit.
Tyres
In 23.5% of failed Roadster tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors
In 21.4% of failed Roadster tests
- Look for chips and cracks in the windscreen, especially in front of the driver.
- Run the wipers and washers and check the blades clear the screen without smearing.
- Check both door mirrors and the rear-view mirror are intact and adjust.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a Roadster's MOT history

MINI Roadster questions

Which MINI Roadster years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, no model year is clearly below average. Above average: 2014–2015. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the MINI Roadster reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 78.7% of initial MOT tests on MINI Roadster cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 70.1%. That is 8.6 points above average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common MINI Roadster problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are lights and electrics (in 41.1% of failed tests), tyres (in 23.5% of failed tests) and windscreen, wipers, mirrors (in 21.4% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 10-year-old MINI Roadster?

At their 2025 MOT tests, MINI Roadster cars first used in 2015, about 10 years old, had a median of 50,300 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific Roadster's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any MINI Roadster

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other MINI models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all MINI Roadster cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count