Skip to main content
GB
MOT
Checkup

Mini Cooper S MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Mini Cooper S. Check any Cooper S by registration number below.

GB

Free, instant, no sign-up required.

81.4%

Avg Pass Rate

-0.3%

vs Mini Avg

22

Year Ranges

Good

Reliability

Mini Cooper S — MOT Reliability Overview

The Mini Cooper S has an average MOT pass rate of 81.4%, which is 0.3 percentage points below the Mini brand average of 81.7%. This is a strong result, indicating that the Cooper S is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

The most common reasons a Mini Cooper S fails its MOT are brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. If you are preparing your Cooper S for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used Mini Cooper S, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Mini Cooper S performs at MOT across different model years.

2022

Based on 1,260 vehicles

96.9%Excellent
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

0.7%

Retest Rate

3.8%

Mileage at 3yr

32k mi

2021

Based on 21,040 vehicles

92.8%Excellent
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.3%

Retest Rate

8.3%

Mileage at 3yr

34k mi

2020

Based on 31,090 vehicles

92.4%Excellent
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.1%

Retest Rate

8.3%

Mileage at 3yr

32k mi

Mileage at 5yr

51k mi

2019

Based on 47,590 vehicles

91.9%Excellent
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.4%

Retest Rate

9.0%

Mileage at 3yr

33k mi

Mileage at 5yr

51k mi

2018

Based on 27,910 vehicles

91.4%Excellent
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.8%

Retest Rate

9.5%

Mileage at 5yr

51k mi

2017

Based on 27,011 vehicles

89.9%Excellent
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.3%

Retest Rate

10.8%

Mileage at 5yr

56k mi

2016

Based on 25,925 vehicles

89.0%Excellent
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.3%

Retest Rate

11.6%

2015

Based on 22,198 vehicles

87.8%Excellent
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.3%

Retest Rate

13.0%

Mileage at 10yr

106k mi

2014

Based on 15,362 vehicles

86.2%Excellent
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.6%

Retest Rate

14.4%

Mileage at 10yr

100k mi

2013

Based on 6,605 vehicles

83.8%Good
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.8%

Retest Rate

17.6%

Mileage at 10yr

100k mi

2012

Based on 3,192 vehicles

82.6%Good
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.0%

Retest Rate

19.0%

Mileage at 10yr

101k mi

2011

Based on 1,019 vehicles

82.8%Good
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.4%

Retest Rate

14.1%

2010

Based on 727 vehicles

77.4%Good
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.9%

Retest Rate

26.8%

2009

Based on 751 vehicles

75.0%Good
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.8%

Retest Rate

29.0%

2008

Based on 775 vehicles

72.4%Average
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.1%

Retest Rate

20.7%

2007

Based on 861 vehicles

76.5%Good
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.4%

Retest Rate

18.0%

2006

Based on 523 vehicles

62.5%Below Average
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.7%

Retest Rate

30.4%

2005

Based on 552 vehicles

66.1%Average
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.5%

Retest Rate

29.2%

2004

Based on 419 vehicles

67.3%Average
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.0%

Retest Rate

30.2%

2003

Based on 402 vehicles

71.1%Average
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.8%

Retest Rate

21.7%

2002

Based on 121 vehicles

66.1%Average
Mini average: 81.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.1%

Retest Rate

20.5%

0

Based on 84,874 vehicles

89.6%Excellent
Mini average: 81.7%
Mileage at 5yr

39k mi

Top MOT Failures — Mini Cooper S

The most common reasons a Mini Cooper S fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

1

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded

4.5%
2

A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

3.7%
3

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

3.4%
4

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

2.6%
5

Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement

2.6%

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Front Nearside

0.9%

Rear Offside

0.8%

Front Offside

0.6%

Mini Cooper S — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Mini Cooper S MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Mini Cooper S?
The average MOT pass rate for the Mini Cooper S is 81.4% compared to the Mini average of 81.7%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mini Cooper S?
The most common MOT failures on the Mini Cooper S are: Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded (4.5%), A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (3.7%), A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (3.4%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.
Is the Mini Cooper S reliable?
With an average MOT pass rate of 81.4%, the Mini Cooper S is rated as "Good" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.
How do I check the MOT history of a Mini Cooper S?
Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.
What mileage should I expect on a Mini Cooper S?
Typical mileage for the Mini Cooper S: 31,800 miles at 3 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used Cooper S to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Mini Cooper S's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.

GB