Small SUV · 2004–2021 cars

MINI Countryman reliability

The MINI Countryman fails 15.5% of first MOT tests, 28% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 331,317 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 76/100#5 of 40 small suvs

Checking a MINI Countryman before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 15.5%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 28% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 331,317; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 7,300; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

What this means for buyers

The MINI Countryman is a strong pick for a used-car buyer. Its first-time MOT fail rate is 15.5%, against 28.4% for all cars. It also has 28% fewer MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage, which ranks it 5 of 40 small SUV models. 2017 cars were the best year, with 33% fewer MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage. 2019 was the weakest, with 19% fewer.

Still, check each car carefully. The most common MOT failures are tyre cuts reaching ply or cords (1.38% of tests), a position lamp not working (1.32%), a wiper blade not clearing the windscreen (1.26%) and tyre tread below 1.6mm (1.22%). On the car you're viewing, check the tyres for cuts and tread depth, then test the lights and wipers.

MOT fail rate by age

How the MINI Countryman ages

Each point is the share of MINI Countrymans of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

MINI CountrymanAll cars

MINI Countryman first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	MINI Countryman	All cars
3	10.3%	12.3%
4	10.2%	14.1%
5	10.7%	16.4%
6	12.4%	19.1%
7	14.3%	22.1%
8	16.9%	25.5%
9	18.3%	28.8%
10	21.7%	31.8%
11	24.3%	34.6%
12	25.9%	37.3%
13	27.5%	39.5%
14	32.8%	41.1%

By year

The best and worst MINI Countryman years

2017 cars come out best and 2019 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

MINI Countryman MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021 Countryman	3,342	8.3%	24% fewer fails	22,503
2020 Countryman	15,688	8.9%	23% fewer fails	24,676
2019 Countryman	40,076	10.2%	19% fewer fails	28,186
2018 Countryman	49,306	11.1%	23% fewer fails	34,059
2017 Countryman	38,820	11.3%	33% fewer fails	40,255
2016 Countryman	32,198	13.7%	28% fewer fails	45,192
2015 Countryman	31,756	15.3%	32% fewer fails	53,603
2014 Countryman	45,111	17.7%	32% fewer fails	61,158
2013 Countryman	10,398	21%	27% fewer fails	67,629
2012 Countryman	24,919	23.1%	31% fewer fails	77,560
2011 Countryman	34,319	26.1%	27% fewer fails	83,473
2010 Countryman	5,221	26.3%	30% fewer fails	86,612

Common problems

What fails most on a MINI Countryman

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics5.3%25% below avg
Tyres5.3%5% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors2.8%25% below avg
Brakes2.2%50% below avg
Suspension1.4%74% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.1%35% below avg
Body, chassis and structure0.6%66% below avg
Wheels0.3%19% above avg
Seat belts and airbags0.2%62% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 1.38% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
2
Position lamp not working 1.32% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.26% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.22% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
5
Tyre ply or cords exposed 0.88% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
6
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 0.77% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
7
Headlamp aim set too high 0.74% of tests
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
8
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 0.66% of tests
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a MINI Countryman's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit12.34%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking7.14%
Brake pads wearing thin5.42%
Brake disc pitted or scored2.92%
Child seat limits belt inspection2.64%
Nail in tyre, monitor1.65%

Before you buy

What to check on a used MINI Countryman

1
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical MINI Countryman covers about 7,300 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Petrol60.4%
Diesel35.7%
Hybrid3.9%
Electric0%
Other0%

Most common colours

White, Grey, Blue, Black, Silver

Average engine size: 1.7 litres.

Compare

How the MINI Countryman compares with its rivals

MINI Countryman against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
MINI Countryman	15.5%	28% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW X1	16.4%	27% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz GLA	13.4%	24% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Toyota C-HR	14.2%	6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Renault Captur	21.4%	15% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford EcoSport	20%	28% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot 2008	25.1%	33% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every small suv ranked in the small suv reliability index, or all MINI models.

Questions

MINI Countryman questions, answered

Is the MINI Countryman reliable?

On MOT results, the MINI Countryman is better than average: it fails 15.5% of first MOT tests, 28% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 5 of 40 small suv models in our index.

What fails most on a MINI Countryman MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the MINI Countryman are tyre cut reaching ply or cords (1.38% of tests), position lamp not working (1.32% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (1.26% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 5.3% of its tests.

Which MINI Countryman year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2017 cars do best (33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2019 cars do worst (19% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a MINI Countryman do a year?

A typical MINI Countryman covers about 7,300 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a MINI Countryman before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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