CarVerify

Free Car Check

E170 FSA

1988 Austin Mini Designer

Black Petrol 998cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires8 Dec 2026
Tests22 (12 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate54.5%

Mileage

81,554 mi
Last recorded81,554 miles
Recorded on6 Dec 2025
Typical for 1988 Austin Mini Designer60,618 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Austin
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationE170 FSA
MakeAustin
ModelMini Designer
Year1988
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine998cc
View full Austin Mini Designer reliability data

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

12 pass 10 fail
Pass 6 Dec 2025 81,554 miles

Central Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened inner edge (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 9 Dec 2024 80,442 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 18 Mar 2023 77,356 miles

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Fail 10 Mar 2023 77,354 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Front Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Registration plate insecure (0.1 (a))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 5 Mar 2022 74,217 miles
Pass 20 Feb 2020 74,170 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Lower Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 10 Feb 2020 74,168 miles

Nearside Front Sub-frame pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension component has an unsafe modification siezed (5.3.3 (c) (i))

Offside Front Sub-frame pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Lower Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 17 Sep 2012 73,690 miles
Fail 5 Sep 2012 73,687 miles

Hazard warning switch faulty (1.4.B.1d)

Nearside Outer Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Inner Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 16 Aug 2011 69,540 miles
Fail 9 Aug 2011 69,535 miles

Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on (1.4.B.1f)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Front Seat belt has a cut which has significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 20 Jul 2010 2,161 miles
Pass 25 Jul 2009 3,762 miles

both front subframe rear mountings poor condition

slight play in o/s front top swivel

some play in steering column bottom bush

wiper stop not working

Fail 23 Jul 2009 3,732 miles

Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

both front subframe rear rubber mountings poor condition

slight play in o/s front top swivel

steering column bottom bush some play

wiper stop not working

Fail 23 Jul 2009 3,725 miles

Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Front Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release (5.2.5a)

Nearside Front Tie bar/rod severely distorted (2.4.G.1)

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

both front subframe rear rubber mountings poor condition

slight play in o/s front top swivel

steering column bottom bush some play

wiper stop not working

Fail 22 Jul 2009 35,224 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (5.2.5b)

Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Offside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

Offside Rear Brake linkage locking device missing (3.5.1l)

Nearside Front Tie bar/rod slightly distorted (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Oil leak

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Suspension joint offside upper dust cover split/missing

nearside front suspension bump stop missing

play in steering column

rear brake efforts low

Fail 18 Jul 2009 35,224 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (5.2.5b)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Offside Front Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Front Upper Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Offside Rear Brake linkage locking device missing (3.5.1l)

Nearside Front Tie bar/rod slightly distorted (2.4.G.1)

Oil leak

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Suspension joint offside upper dust cover split/missing

nearside front suspension bump stop missing

play in steering column

rear brake efforts low

Pass 13 Sep 2008 1,702 miles

n/s/r subframe rear mount area corroding

Pass 4 Sep 2007 8,279 miles
Fail 1 Aug 2007 825 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Fail 19 Jan 2007 821 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Direction indicators flashing more than 120 times a minute (1.4.A.2g)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition off (1.4.B.1f)

Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on (1.4.B.1f)

Nearside Rear Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion (6.1.C.1)

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

slight wear in both track rod ends †steering rack worn

Pass 19 Jan 2006 98,796 miles

SLIGHT WEAR IN STEERING RACK †SLIGHT WEAR IN O/S TRACK ROD END †SURFACE CORROSION AT TOP OF N/S/F WING

How Reliable is the Austin Mini Designer?

Based on 4,630 MOT tests across 537 vehicles.

63.0%
Pass Rate
841
Miles/Year
38
Year Lifespan
537
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 473
Steering rack gaiter split 383
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 324
fog lamp not working 268
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 263
Full Austin Mini Designer reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

E170 FSA is a 1988 Austin Mini Designer in Black with a 998cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 54.5%.

Across all 1988 Austin Mini Designer models, the average MOT pass rate is 63.1% with a typical mileage of 60,618 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Austin Mini Designer fails its MOT is subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 473 recorded failures. If you're considering buying E170 FSA, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Austin Mini Designer typically stays on UK roads for around 38 years. At 38 years old, this Austin Mini Designer is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of E170 FSA?

You can check the full history of E170 FSA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E170 FSA registered?

E170 FSA is a 1988 Austin Mini Designer, first registered on 28 June 1988.

Is E170 FSA safe to buy?

The MOT history for E170 FSA shows 22 tests with a 54.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E170 FSA have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on E170 FSA. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.