Used car guide

2012 MINI Countryman: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 MINI Countrymans, from 2,500 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,500MOT tests in 2025
72%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
6,700typical miles a year
4.4×the usual rate for anti-roll bar bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 MINI Countrymans than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints4.4× usual
    MINI Countryman
    2.2% All 2012 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.3% here, against 10.1% of all 2012 cars. Ball joint: 1.1% here, against 5.6% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 MINI Countryman MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    23% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    21% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    21% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    8% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a MINI Countryman?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023528Tyres 11%
20228,018Tyres 22%
20217,456Tyres 23%
20208,100Tyres 27%
201913,896Tyres 28%
201813,862Tyres 29%
201710,970Tyres 28%
20169,175Tyres 30%
20159,114Tyres 30%
201412,635Tyres 31%
20132,843Tyres 31%
20112,720Tyres 31%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 MINI Countrymans registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score