MINI COOPER Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 3,012 MOT tests from 378 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore. The figures below describe that VehicleScore sample. Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore MOT data are not a claim that every MINI COOPER has the same fault.

MINI COOPER's have a very good reliability rating of 736/999. The score was calculated from the average of every MINI COOPER that has had a registered MOT.

We calculated all of the below figures by getting the score from each vehicle make/model/year/fuel, which are each calculated a score. We then generate the average score, taking into account factors such as mileage and emissions.

Also check BHP & performance, road tax, fuel economy, and CO2 emissions for the MINI COOPER.

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Fuel Type	Year	Reliability Score	Avg Mileage	Sample Size
N/A	N/A	863/999Excellent	83,011 miles	14,703 vehicles
N/A	N/A	798/999Very good	81,690 miles	12,788 vehicles
N/A	N/A	776/999Very good	84,273 miles	15,537 vehicles
N/A	N/A	766/999Very good	76,917 miles	1,287 vehicles
N/A	N/A	754/999Very good	73,920 miles	2,971 vehicles
N/A	N/A	750/999Very good	86,128 miles	12,855 vehicles
N/A	N/A	727/999Very good	74,239 miles	4,994 vehicles
N/A	N/A	718/999Very good	93,664 miles	9,521 vehicles
N/A	N/A	704/999Very good	73,107 miles	5,555 vehicles
N/A	N/A	681/999Good	73,832 miles	4,015 vehicles
N/A	N/A	659/999Good	73,810 miles	1,899 vehicles
N/A	N/A	640/999Good	79,195 miles	2,777 vehicles

How reliable is the MINI COOPER?

Based on 3,012 MOT tests from 378 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore.

Vehicles

378

MOT tests

3,012

Pass rate

84.2%

Median mileage

57,230 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every MINI COOPER has the same fault. The median VehicleScore in this sample is 821 out of 999.

Common MINI COOPER MOT problems

These groups combine equivalent MOT comments, such as the same tyre note on different corners. Counts are comment occurrences in the sample, not a percentage of cars.

Tyre wear

VehicleScore MOT data includes 629 advisory comments and 56 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record tyres that were worn, damaged, or close to the legal tread depth when the car was inspected.

What to inspect

Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT TYRE WORN CLOSE TO LEGAL LIMIT/WORN ON EDGE (5.2.3 (E))

Brake pad wear

VehicleScore MOT data includes 99 advisory comments and 9 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake pads that were worn or below the inspection limit.

What to inspect

Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE PAD(S) WEARING THIN (1.1.13 (A) (II))

Brake disc wear

VehicleScore MOT data includes 84 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake discs that were worn, scored, pitted, or corroded.

What to inspect

Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE DISC WORN, PITTED OR SCORED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (1.1.14 (A) (II))

Windscreen damage

VehicleScore MOT data includes 52 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record chips, cracks, or other windscreen damage in the driver’s view.

What to inspect

Look for chips and cracks, especially in the area swept by the wipers.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE WINDSCREEN WIPER DOES NOT CLEAR THE WINDSCREEN EFFECTIVELY (3.4 (B) (II))

Oil leak

VehicleScore MOT data includes 30 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an oil leak noted by the tester. Shock absorber misting is counted as a damper issue, not as an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.

Example MOT wording: OIL LEAK, BUT NOT EXCESSIVE (8.4.1 (A) (I))

Lamp and bulb faults

VehicleScore MOT data includes 29 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a lamp or bulb other than a headlamp or indicator.

What to inspect

Switch on the side, brake, fog, and number-plate lamps.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT POSITION LAMP NOT WORKING (4.2.1 (A) (II))

Corrosion

VehicleScore MOT data includes 22 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record corrosion the tester could see on the body or structure. Corrosion already named on a spring, brake, or other component is counted with that component.

What to inspect

Inspect the underside, sills, and subframe for heavy corrosion, especially where an advisory mentions it.

Example MOT wording: REAR SUB-FRAME CORRODED BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (5.3.3 (B) (I))

Engine warning lamp

VehicleScore MOT data includes 15 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an engine warning lamp that was on, or did not work, during the inspection.

What to inspect

Switch on the ignition and confirm the lamp comes on and then goes out. Ask what was diagnosed if it stayed on.

Example MOT wording: ENGINE MIL INOPERATIVE OR INDICATES A MALFUNCTION (8.2.1.2 (H))

MINI COOPER MOT reliability by year

A model year is only commented on when VehicleScore has at least 5 vehicles from that year.

Year	Vehicles	MOT tests	Pass rate	Recurring issues seen
2026	6	0	—	No recurring grouped MOT issue in this year sample
2023	18	19	94.7%	Tyre wear
2022	12	25	88%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2021	21	73	86.3%	Tyre wear, Windscreen damage
2020	20	84	90.5%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2019	43	236	87.7%	Tyre wear, Windscreen damage
2018	48	320	88.8%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2017	22	175	87.4%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2016	40	362	86.2%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2015	32	318	84.3%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2014	41	463	87%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2013	27	337	82.5%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2012	18	264	81.1%	Tyre wear, Anti-roll bar issues
2009	6	110	72.7%	Exhaust, Tyre wear

What to check when buying a used MINI COOPER

This is an inspection checklist based on MOT comments in the VehicleScore sample. It does not mean the car you are looking at has these defects.

Tyre wear. Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.
Brake pad wear. Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.
Brake disc wear. Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.
Windscreen damage. Look for chips and cracks, especially in the area swept by the wipers.
Oil leak. Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.
Lamp and bulb faults. Switch on the side, brake, fog, and number-plate lamps.
Corrosion. Inspect the underside, sills, and subframe for heavy corrosion, especially where an advisory mentions it.
Engine warning lamp. Switch on the ignition and confirm the lamp comes on and then goes out. Ask what was diagnosed if it stayed on.

Buying a MINI COOPER?

Common problems tell you what can affect MINI COOPERs generally. VehicleScore can check the history of the actual car you're considering.

Where does this data come from?

VehicleScore analyses MOT histories from vehicles in its own dataset. Sample sizes vary by model, and a small sample is labelled as such. MOT data records roadworthiness and inspection defects. It does not capture every mechanical or electronic problem a car can have, and a comment on one test is not proof that the model has an inherent fault.

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