MINI Cooper MOT pass rate: 88.1% (231,097 tests, 2025)

The MINI Cooper passed 88.1% of its 231,097 MOT tests in 2025 — 10.6 points above the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 7 years old with 42,526 miles on the clock.

88.1%Pass rate (2025)

231,097MOT tests analysed

42,526 miMedian mileage at test

7 yrsMedian age at test

How the Cooper compares

MINI Cooper

88.1%

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

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

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Tyres	16,218	35.2%
2	Brakes	7,339	15.9%
3	Visibility	6,891	15.0%
4	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	6,647	14.4%
5	Suspension	3,838	8.3%
6	Noise, emissions and leaks	3,538	7.7%

Pre-MOT checklist for Cooper 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
Replace smeared wiper blades and top up washer fluid — both are test items
Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
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 pass rate by registration year

Lower age-adjusted outliers to inspect carefully: 2007. Strongest age-adjusted years: 2012, 2014. Full ranking and method: MINI Cooper years to avoid.

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2007	2,302	62.6%	-2.5 pts	90,457
2008	2,056	65.5%	+0.4 pts	88,937
2009	2,505	68.9%	+2.5 pts	84,548
2010	2,709	75.5%	+8.2 pts	83,160
2011	3,252	78.4%	+9.3 pts	80,358
2012	10,706	81.8%	+10.6 pts	68,739
2013	20,110	81.7%	+8.4 pts	62,142
2014	56,247	85.3%	+9.5 pts	62,224
2015	77,536	87.0%	+8.3 pts	56,928
2016	79,271	88.2%	+6.9 pts	48,913
2017	82,480	88.6%	+4.6 pts	41,813
2018	90,603	90.1%	+3.7 pts	34,218
2019	87,803	91.5%	+3.1 pts	27,797
2020	57,726	92.2%	+2.3 pts	22,217
2021	34,259	92.0%	+1.6 pts	21,455
2022	19,036	92.3%	+1.1 pts	18,600

Check a specific Cooper 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

MINI69.5% pass rate · 229,365 tests Countryman88.6% pass rate · 96,505 tests Cooper S88.3% pass rate · 92,953 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?

In 2025, 88.1% of 231,097 first MOT tests on the MINI Cooper were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the Cooper fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is tyres (35.2% of its recorded defects), followed by brakes.

Is the MINI Cooper reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 88.1% it performs above the national average at a median age of 7 years and 42,526 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.