MINI John Cooper Works: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The MINI John Cooper Works passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 11.1 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 19,916 individual MINI John Cooper Works tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate87.8%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+11.1 points
Tests analysed19,916
Average mileage at test37,782 miles
Average year of manufacture2018
Reliability rank1,012 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 87.8% first-time pass rate means roughly 12 in every 100 MINI John Cooper Works 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 John Cooper Works tested had covered 37,782 miles and was built around 2018.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The MINI John Cooper Works sits 11.1 points above the national average, ranked 1,012 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 John Cooper Works 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 John Cooper Works at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a MINI John Cooper Works

  1. Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel, 0.3% of tests (4.46x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber, 0.7% of tests (3.8x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 6% of tests (2.16x the national rate for this defect)
  4. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.3% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator, 0.3% of tests (1.39x the national rate for this defect)
  6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 1.3% of tests
  7. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 1.2% of tests
  8. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.2% of tests
  9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.8% of tests
  10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.5% of tests

From 19,819 DVSA-tracked MINI John Cooper Works tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 10.67% of these flagged MINI John Cooper Works defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a MINI John Cooper Works

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 John Cooper Works before it actually fails on it.

  1. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 1.3% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 15.9% of tests, also fails
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 15.4% of tests, also fails
  4. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 7.5% of tests, also fails
  5. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 5% of tests
  6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.2% of tests
  7. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1% of tests
  8. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 0.8% of tests
  9. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 0.7% of tests
  10. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 0.6% of tests

From 19,819 DVSA-tracked MINI John Cooper Works tests, 2024.

MINI John Cooper Works pass rate by model year

From its 2013 to its 2021 model year, the MINI John Cooper Works's first-time pass rate has risen 9.8 points, from 81.9% to 91.7%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each MINI John Cooper Works year:

Other MINI models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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MINI John Cooper Works MOT pass rate badge: 87.8%

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MINI John Cooper Works most common MOT failure: Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel (0.3% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate