Used car guide

2017 MINI ONE: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2017 MINI ONEs, from 5,366 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,366MOT tests in 2025
84%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%)
5,900typical miles a year
1.8×the usual rate for wipers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2017 MINI ONEs than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Wipers1.8× usual
    MINI ONE
    4.4% All 2017 cars
    2.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 1.5% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 1.3% here, against 4.8% of all 2017 cars.

By area

The share of 2017 MINI ONE MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    32% 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.

  • Brakes
    13% 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.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    5% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    3% 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.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    1% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

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.

  • Clutch hydraulics and pedal spring
    Manual gearbox

    On manual cars the clutch can play up, either from the hydraulics or the pedal return spring.

    At the viewing: Feel the clutch pedal on the test drive: it should be smooth and come back up fully.

    If it needs doing: Clutch replacement, about £250–£600. ClickMechanic

    Source: Auto Express: used MINI Mk3 buyer's guide

  • Jumping out of gear
    Manual gearbox

    Some cars jump out of gear, usually first gear at low speed. Adjusting the gear linkage usually fixes it.

    At the viewing: Pull away in first several times and check it stays in gear.

    Source: Auto Express: used MINI Mk3 buyer's guide

  • Paint worn at the door pillar
    All engines

    Door rubbers can wear through the paint on the pillar behind the front doors.

    At the viewing: Open the doors and check the paint on the pillar.

    Source: Auto Express: used MINI Mk3 buyer's guide

Looking at a MINI ONE?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20221,208Tyres 28%
20211,313Tyres 29%
20201,138Tyres 30%
20191,556Tyres 32%
20181,568Tyres 30%
20168,296Tyres 31%
201510,360Tyres 31%
20146,152Tyres 31%
20137,001Tyres 32%
20124,267Tyres 32%
20111,045Tyres 34%
2010599Tyres 33%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2017 MINI ONEs registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score