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Common problems by part

MINI Countryman suspension problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 48,085 MOT tests · Updated

At 6 years, 0.7 in 100 MOT tests of the MINI Countryman failed on suspension, against 2.9 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 48,085 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: fails less often than all class 4 vehicles the same age (0.2–0.3×) (all test years), 351 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 13 ages from 3 to 15 years, 415,833 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Coil spring broken, 0.3 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.7 fails per 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 2.9 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 6 (all test years). The MINI Countryman fails less often here.

Why it matters

A suspension fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

Push down hard on each corner: it should rise once and settle. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and look behind each wheel for snapped springs or split rubber bushes.

MINI Countryman suspension fails by age

MINI Countryman suspension fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the MINI Countryman. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.0510153 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.6), 38,812 MOT tests34 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.9), 44,028 MOT tests5 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 1.6), 47,086 MOT tests56 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 48,085 MOT tests7 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 4.4), 43,496 MOT tests78 years: 1.5 per 100 (all cars 6.1), 42,578 MOT tests9 years: 1.7 per 100 (all cars 7.9), 34,549 MOT tests910 years: 2.2 per 100 (all cars 9.7), 32,342 MOT tests11 years: 3.2 per 100 (all cars 11.6), 33,129 MOT tests1112 years: 3.7 per 100 (all cars 13.4), 21,623 MOT tests13 years: 5.1 per 100 (all cars 14.9), 18,076 MOT tests1314 years: 5.5 per 100 (all cars 16.0), 10,667 MOT tests15 years: 5.1 per 100 (all cars 16.7), 1,362 MOT tests15
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. MINI Countryman All class 4 vehicles the same age
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
338,8120.10.6
444,0280.20.9
547,0860.41.6
648,0850.72.9
743,4961.34.4
842,5781.56.1
934,5491.77.9
1032,3422.29.7
1133,1293.211.6
1221,6233.713.4
1318,0765.114.9
1410,6675.516.0
151,3625.116.7

All first-use years of the MINI Countryman pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years.

What fails in the suspension at 6 years

Fails

  • Coil spring broken: 0.3 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 1.0. Replace coil spring: estimated £64–£236 (0.5–2 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts £25–£80) Coil spring fractured or broken MOT fail
  • Suspension arm bush worn: 0.1 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.4. Replace suspension arm or bush: estimated £92–£237 (0.8–1.5 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts £30–£120) Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn MOT fail

Advisories (not fails)

Replace suspension arm or bush cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
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By engine and fuel

  • 1.5 petrol: 0.6 per 100 at 6 years, fails less often than petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (0.2–0.3×) (all test years; 18,079 MOT tests)
  • 1.6 petrol: 0.4 per 100 at 6 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 5,590 MOT tests)
  • 2.0 diesel: 1.1 per 100 at 6 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 8,287 MOT tests)
  • 1.6 diesel: 0.7 per 100 at 6 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 2,296 MOT tests)
  • 2.0 petrol: 0.8 per 100 at 6 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 9,797 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

Push down hard on each corner: it should rise once and settle. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and look behind each wheel for snapped springs or split rubber bushes.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement.

Check one MINI Countryman, not the average

The figures here describe MINI Countryman cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other MINI Countryman problems

Suspension on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the MINI Countryman have more suspension problems than other cars?

0.2 to 0.3 times the suspension fail rate of all class 4 vehicles the same age at 6 years (all test years), from 48,085 MOT tests. The interval is clear of 0.8 in the same direction at 11 of the 13 ages seen (ages up to 18 with at least 100 MOT tests with a fail).

How common are MINI Countryman suspension problems?

0.7 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years failed on suspension, against 2.9 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 48,085 MOT tests).

What is the most common MINI Countryman suspension fail?

0.3 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years: Coil spring broken (136 MOT tests with it).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 415,833 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare