2011 Mini Cooper Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 372 MOT tests analysed for the 2011 Mini Cooper Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility. Its pass rate of 85.2% was above the average for cars of a similar age (78.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 17.1% in the 90-120k group versus 12.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 54 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.7% | 21 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.2% | 12 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 8 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 6 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 28 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 26 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 13 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 8 |
| 5 | Wipers | 8 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 7 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.0% | 82 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.5% | 65 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.4% | 50 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 39 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.3% | 31 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.5% | 28 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 50 | 12.0% |
| 30-60k | 162 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 125 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 35 | 17.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81 | 17.3% |
| 2022 | 71 | 12.7% |
| 2023 | 77 | 15.6% |
| 2024 | 76 | 17.1% |
| 2025 | 67 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Cooper Auto
Before buying a 2011 Mini Cooper Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 14.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (3.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2011 Mini Cooper Autos pass their MOT?
85.2% of the 372 2011 Mini Cooper Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Mini Cooper Auto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests, followed by tyres (5.7%).
Does the 2011 Cooper Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.0% in the 0-30k band to 17.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 372 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.