Does the Austin Mini fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Austin Mini records 37.95 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 29.35 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+8.60, 95% interval +7.78 to +9.42). It ranks 90 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Austin Mini by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Austin Mini is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 1,281 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,281 | 5.90 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 888 | 4.09 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 832 | 3.83 |
| An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 830 | 3.82 |
| A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 672 | 3.09 |
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
Other pages for this model
Austin Mini by postcode area · Austin Mini body, chassis and structure failures · Austin Mini brakes failures · Austin Mini vehicle identification 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