Rover MINI - 1989
172.6 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1989 is 252.8 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Rover MINI, model year 1989.
Sample size: 400 cars, 763 tests and 1,317 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 400 cars
The 1989 ROVER MINI shows a significantly lower overall defect rate compared to the average car of the same year, with 173 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 31% better than the average of 249 defects. While some categories like Brakes and Visibility reveal much lower failure rates than average, indicating strong performance, the model does show a slight increase in defects as mileage increases, particularly in the 0–31,000 and 31,000–62,000 mile ranges. Notably, there are no standout issues in categories such as tyre wear, but the MINI excels in areas like Equipment, where it has only 4% of vehicles failing compared to the average rate of 17%. Overall, this classic model demonstrates a commendable reliability profile amidst its peers.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 400 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 52.7% better
45.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 97.1 / 100 tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▲ 19.5% better
21.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.1 / 100 tests
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▲ 42.7% better
12.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.0 / 100 tests
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper not operating or missing
Lights & Electrics
▲ 6.0% better
57.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.4 / 100 tests
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- 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
- A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 28.4% better
118.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 165.6 / 100 tests
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- A wheel bearing: with excessive play
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▲ 39.2% better
37.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.7 / 100 tests
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▲ 77.3% better
4.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 18.5 / 100 tests
- Audible warning:
- Seat belt anchorage loose
- Seat belt retractor not functioning as intended
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
- Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type
Other
▲ 9.6% better
48.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 53.1 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Emissions test unable to be completed
- Exhaust emits excessive dense blue or clearly visible black smoke during acceleration which would obscure the view of other road users
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 106
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 95
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 71
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 64
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 52
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 32
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 31
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 28
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 23
Serious faults (Top 10)
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 64
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 32
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 22
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 22
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 19
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 19
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 19
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 18
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
FAIL
Occurrences: 17