Used car guide

2013 MINI hatch: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2013 MINI hatchs, from 18,643 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

18,643MOT tests in 2025
74%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%)
6,500typical miles a year
1.6×the usual rate for wheels

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2013 MINI hatchs than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Wheels1.6× usual
    MINI hatch
    2.2% All 2013 cars
    1.4%
    Rough price £70–£150

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

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.7% here, against 8.7% of all 2013 cars. Coil springs: 4.1% here, against 8.7% of all 2013 cars.

By area

The share of 2013 MINI hatch MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    31% 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
    18% 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
    6% 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.

Known faults

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Timing chain rattle (petrol)
    Petrol

    Worn timing chains and guides are a known costly repair on these petrol engines, often from low oil levels.

    At the viewing: Ask the seller not to warm the engine before you arrive. A rattle on a cold start is a warning sign.

    Source: Parkers: MINI hatch buying guide

  • Turbo wear (Cooper S)
    Turbo petrol models

    High oil use can wear the turbo quickly on turbo petrol models.

    At the viewing: Once warm, rev it hard and look for blue smoke or a burning oil smell.

    Source: Parkers: MINI hatch buying guide

  • Worn water pump

    A whistle at idle that goes when you blip the throttle usually means the water pump is worn.

    At the viewing: Listen at tickover once the engine is warm.

    Source: Parkers: MINI hatch buying guide

Looking at a MINI hatch?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
201221,576Tyres 31%
201124,769Tyres 32%
201028,637Lights and electrics 34%
200925,464Suspension 36%
200822,435Suspension 40%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2013 MINI hatchs registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score