2018 MINI Cooper S MOT pass rate: 90.3% (28,676 tests)
Is the 2018 Cooper S getting worse?
Pass rate of 2018-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 91.0% +2.9 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 90.0% +3.8 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 89.8% +5.1 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2018 Cooper S
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2,127 | 50.9% |
| 2 | Visibility | 709 | 17.0% |
| 3 | Brakes | 615 | 14.7% |
| 4 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 223 | 5.3% |
| 5 | Suspension | 177 | 4.2% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 92 | 2.2% |
All Cooper S years compared
| 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 (this page) | 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 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: MINI Cooper S years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2018 MINI Cooper S reliable?
2018-registered examples passed 90.3% of their MOT tests (28,676 tests, 2023–2025), +3.9 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 8 years old with a median 34,730 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2018 Cooper S?
The median tested example shows 34,730 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.