MINI Cooper Auto: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The MINI Cooper Auto passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 6 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,480 individual MINI Cooper Auto tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate82.7%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+6 points
Tests analysed1,480
Average mileage at test54,373 miles
Average year of manufacture2012
Reliability rank1,350 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 82.7% first-time pass rate means roughly 17 in every 100 MINI Cooper Autos presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average MINI Cooper Auto tested had covered 54,373 miles and was built around 2012.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The MINI Cooper Auto sits 6 points above the national average, ranked 1,350 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific MINI Cooper Auto rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged MINI Cooper Autos at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a MINI Cooper Auto

  1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 1.7% of tests (4.77x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, 1% of tests (3.73x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.3% of tests (1.35x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 3% of tests
  5. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.4% of tests
  6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.2% of tests
  7. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 2% of tests
  8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1.7% of tests
  9. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.4% of tests
  10. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.4% of tests

From 1,481 DVSA-tracked MINI Cooper Auto tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.66% of these flagged MINI Cooper Auto defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a MINI Cooper Auto

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a MINI Cooper Auto before it actually fails on it.

  1. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 3.1% of tests (2.91x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 2.5% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this advisory)
  3. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 1.7% of tests (1.23x the national rate for this advisory)
  4. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3.8% of tests (1.19x the national rate for this advisory)
  5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 18.2% of tests, also fails
  6. A tyre seriously damaged, 16.9% of tests, also fails
  7. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 11% of tests
  8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 6.6% of tests
  9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 6% of tests
  10. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 4.9% of tests

From 1,481 DVSA-tracked MINI Cooper Auto tests, 2024.

MINI Cooper Auto pass rate by model year

From its 2012 to its 2013 model year, the MINI Cooper Auto's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.4 points, from 86.6% to 84.2%, an unusual pattern where even its newest years fail more than its oldest. First-time pass rate for each MINI Cooper Auto year:

Other MINI models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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MINI Cooper Auto MOT pass rate badge: 82.7%

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MINI Cooper Auto most common MOT failure: Emissions levels exceed default limits (1.7% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate