2021 MINI Cooper MOT pass rate: 92.0% (34,259 tests)
Is the 2021 Cooper getting worse?
Pass rate of 2021-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 92.2% +1.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 91.7% +1.6 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 2021 Cooper
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2,174 | 57.1% |
| 2 | Visibility | 902 | 23.7% |
| 3 | Brakes | 353 | 9.3% |
| 4 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 113 | 3.0% |
| 5 | Suspension | 66 | 1.7% |
| 6 | Identification of the vehicle | 58 | 1.5% |
All Cooper years compared
| 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 (this page) | 34,259 | 92.0% | +1.6 pts | 21,455 |
| 2022 | 19,036 | 92.3% | +1.1 pts | 18,600 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: MINI Cooper years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2021 MINI Cooper reliable?
2021-registered examples passed 92.0% of their MOT tests (34,259 tests, 2023–2025), +1.6 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 5 years old with a median 21,455 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2021 Cooper?
The median tested example shows 21,455 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.