MINI Cooper S MOT pass rate: 88.3% (92,953 tests, 2025)

The MINI Cooper S passed 88.3% of its 92,953 MOT tests in 2025 — 10.8 points above the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 7 years old with 39,748 miles on the clock.

88.3%Pass rate (2025)

92,953MOT tests analysed

39,748 miMedian mileage at test

7 yrsMedian age at test

How the Cooper S compares

MINI Cooper S

88.3%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

MINI average (all models)

82.1%

What fails most on the MINI Cooper S

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the Cooper S:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Tyres	7,371	41.9%
2	Brakes	2,457	14.0%
3	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	2,281	13.0%
4	Visibility	2,258	12.8%
5	Suspension	1,578	9.0%
6	Noise, emissions and leaks	889	5.1%

Pre-MOT checklist for Cooper S owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

Check tread with the 20p test and inspect sidewalls for cracking — tyres close to the limit are the country’s most common advisory
Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
Replace smeared wiper blades and top up washer fluid — both are test items
Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system

Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

Cooper S pass rate by registration year

Strongest age-adjusted years: 2012, 2013. Full ranking and method: MINI Cooper S years to avoid.

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2012	3,433	81.2%	+10.0 pts	65,832
2013	7,158	81.8%	+8.5 pts	63,522
2014	16,234	84.3%	+8.4 pts	60,192
2015	22,907	86.0%	+7.3 pts	57,446
2016	27,277	87.6%	+6.3 pts	49,426
2017	28,426	88.6%	+4.6 pts	42,159
2018	28,676	90.3%	+3.9 pts	34,730
2019	48,682	91.0%	+2.6 pts	28,719
2020	31,776	91.2%	+1.3 pts	23,392
2021	20,407	91.1%	+0.6 pts	22,737
2022	8,369	91.6%	+0.3 pts	19,356

Check a specific Cooper S before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other MINI models

Cooper88.1% pass rate · 231,097 tests MINI69.5% pass rate · 229,365 tests Countryman88.6% pass rate · 96,505 tests One84.5% pass rate · 49,328 tests Clubman83.0% pass rate · 25,716 tests John Cooper Works88.8% pass rate · 21,835 tests MINI (R60)77.9% pass rate · 11,846 tests Cooper S Electric Level 291.4% pass rate · 8,797 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a MINI Cooper S?

In 2025, 88.3% of 92,953 first MOT tests on the MINI Cooper S were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the Cooper S fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is tyres (41.9% of its recorded defects), followed by brakes.

Is the MINI Cooper S reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 88.3% it performs above the national average at a median age of 7 years and 39,748 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.