2013 Mini Cooper Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,326 MOT tests analysed for the 2013 Mini Cooper Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres. Its pass rate of 87.6% was above the average for cars of a similar age (80.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 20.1% in the 90-120k group versus 8.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 411 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.9% | 213 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.8% | 209 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.9% | 83 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.7% | 73 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 62 |
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 | 150 |
| 2 | Wipers | 146 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 137 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 103 |
| 5 | Washers | 86 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 61 |
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 | 23.4% | 1,010 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.0% | 692 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 403 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 256 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.8% | 249 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 172 |
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 | 1,082 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,140 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 883 | 16.1% |
| 90-120k | 194 | 20.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 861 | 12.2% |
| 2022 | 852 | 10.7% |
| 2023 | 862 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 877 | 13.7% |
| 2025 | 874 | 13.8% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Cooper Auto
Before buying a 2013 Mini Cooper Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 9.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.9% 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.
- Tyres (4.8% 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.
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 2013 Mini Cooper Autos pass their MOT?
87.6% of the 4,326 2013 Mini Cooper Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mini Cooper Auto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by visibility (4.9%).
Does the 2013 Cooper Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 20.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,326 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.