MINI Cooper D: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The MINI Cooper D fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 0.9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 6,205 individual MINI Cooper D tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 75.8% first-time pass rate means roughly 24 in every 100 MINI Cooper Ds presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average MINI Cooper D tested had covered 89,761 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 D sits 0.9 points below the national average, ranked 1,594 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

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 D 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 Ds at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a MINI Cooper D

1. An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.6% of tests (3.64x the national rate for this defect)
2. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.6% of tests (2.72x the national rate for this defect)
3. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 5.9% of tests (2.65x the national rate for this defect)
4. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.4% of tests (1.77x the national rate for this defect)
5. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.6% of tests (1.57x the national rate for this defect)
6. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1.1% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this defect)
7. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2.1% of tests (1.27x the national rate for this defect)
8. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.5% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this defect)
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.9% of tests (1.22x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.7% of tests

From 6,190 DVSA-tracked MINI Cooper D tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.16% of these flagged MINI Cooper D 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 D

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 D before it actually fails on it.

1. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 3.7% of tests (3.42x the national rate for this advisory)
2. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 4.7% of tests (2.37x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 8.4% of tests (1.62x the national rate for this advisory)
4. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 1.3% of tests (1.56x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4% of tests (1.52x the national rate for this advisory)
6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 17.7% of tests (1.44x the national rate for this advisory)
7. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 5.4% of tests (1.39x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
8. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 4.3% of tests (1.36x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 29.9% of tests, also fails
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 16.3% of tests, also fails

From 6,190 DVSA-tracked MINI Cooper D tests, 2024.

MINI Cooper D pass rate by model year

From its 2010 to its 2013 model year, the MINI Cooper D's first-time pass rate has risen 8.1 points, from 70.2% to 78.3%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each MINI Cooper D year:

• 2010 MINI Cooper D - 70.2% first-time pass, 305 tests
• 2011 MINI Cooper D - 71.8% first-time pass, 738 tests
• 2012 MINI Cooper D - 75.9% first-time pass, 1,800 tests
• 2013 MINI Cooper D - 78.3% first-time pass, 3,116 tests

Other MINI models

• MINI MINI - 68.5%
• MINI Cooper - 87.9%
• MINI Countryman - 89.1%
• MINI Cooper S - 88.1%
• MINI One - 84.8%
• MINI Clubman - 85.1%
• MINI John Cooper Works - 87.8%
• MINI MINI (R60) - 79%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Nissan Pulsar - 76%
• Renault Unclassified - 76%
• Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto - 75.9%
• Mercedes-Benz 200 - 75.8%
• Kia Picanto - 75.7%
• Hyundai I40 - 75.7%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate