MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 776 MOT tests from 113 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 JOHN COOPER WORKS has the same fault.

MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS's have a extremely good reliability rating of 829/999. The score was calculated from the average of every MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS 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.

MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS (example)

Check the reliability of your MINI John Cooper Works

Enter your registration to see the MOT history for this car.

Service history
Dealer & service records
MOT records
Past & current MOT data
Write-off check
Check for insurance write-offs
Finance check
Outstanding finance & theft checks

Fuel Type	Year	Reliability Score	Avg Mileage	Sample Size
Petrol	2020	902/999Outstanding	144,499 miles	1,055 vehicles
Petrol	2019	852/999Excellent	99,501 miles	1,832 vehicles
Petrol	2016	791/999Very good	67,431 miles	1,559 vehicles
Petrol	2015	771/999Very good	68,647 miles	1,754 vehicles

How reliable is the MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS?

Based on 776 MOT tests from 113 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®.

Vehicles

113

MOT tests

776

Pass rate

85.3%

Median mileage

55,119 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS has the same fault. The median VehicleScore® in this sample is 839 out of 999.

Common MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS 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 61 advisory comments and 39 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 disc wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 41 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: OFFSIDE REAR BRAKE DISC WORN, PITTED OR SCORED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (1.1.14 (A) (II))

Brake pad wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 29 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 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))

Lambda sensor issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 6 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 lambda sensor reading or defect noted at the test.

What to inspect

Ask whether a sensor or emissions fault has been diagnosed since the test.

Example MOT wording: EXHAUST LAMBDA READING AFTER 2ND FAST IDLE OUTSIDE SPECIFIED LIMITS (8.2.1.2 (C))

Oil leak

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 6 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))

Windscreen damage

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 5 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: OFFSIDE WINDSCREEN WIPER DOES NOT CLEAR THE WINDSCREEN EFFECTIVELY (3.4 (B) (II))

MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS 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	5	0	—	No recurring grouped MOT issue in this year sample
2025	6	0	—	No recurring grouped MOT issue in this year sample
2022	5	12	83.3%	Tyre wear
2021	9	27	92.6%	Tyre wear
2019	10	57	93%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2018	14	99	86.9%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2017	7	55	90.9%	Tyre wear, Suspension arm issues
2016	18	179	82.1%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2015	14	145	88.3%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2013	8	115	75.7%	Brake disc wear, Tyre wear

What to check when buying a used MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS

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 disc wear. Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.
Brake pad wear. Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.
Lambda sensor issues. Ask whether a sensor or emissions fault has been diagnosed since the test.
Oil leak. Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.
Windscreen damage. Look for chips and cracks, especially in the area swept by the wipers.

Buying a MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS?

Common problems tell you what can affect MINI JOHN COOPER WORKSs 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.

Browse Other MINI Models

← Back to Reliability Check