Does the Austin Mini fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Austin Mini records 16.64 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 15.01 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+1.63, 95% interval +1.09 to +2.17). It ranks 191 of 663 models on body, chassis and structure (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on body, chassis and structure · check a Austin Mini by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Austin Mini is “A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc”, recorded 739 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 739 | 3.40 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 705 | 3.24 |
| Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 492 | 2.26 |
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 352 | 1.62 |
| Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point | 323 | 1.49 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 21,727 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Austin Mini gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
19.6% of Austin Mini MOTs with a body, chassis and structure advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.3 months and 322 miles later (1,198 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,198 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Austin Mini by postcode area · Austin Mini brakes failures · Austin Mini vehicle identification failures · Austin Mini lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Austin Mini noise, emissions and leaks failures · Austin Mini road wheels failures · Austin Mini seat belts and airbags failures · Austin Mini steering failures · Austin Mini suspension failures · Austin Mini tyres failures · Austin Mini visibility failures