2002 MINI Cooper — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,428 MOT tests, the 2002 MINI Cooper recorded a 68.8% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (29.4% fail rate), the 2002 Cooper comes out 1.8pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 21.4% of all tests — 8.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and srs malfunction indicator lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 210 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.6% versus 25.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 43.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.4% | 306 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.8% | 182 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.4% | 177 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 153 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.8% | 97 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.7% | 81 |
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 | 210 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 102 |
| 3 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 96 |
| 4 | Joints | 88 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 85 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 78 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 43.7% | 624 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.8% | 454 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 29.9% | 427 |
| 4 | Tyres | 25.8% | 368 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 234 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.8% | 225 |
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 | 63 | 25.4% |
| 30-60k | 165 | 26.7% |
| 60-90k | 311 | 31.8% |
| 90-120k | 468 | 32.5% |
| 120-150k | 294 | 30.3% |
| 150k+ | 86 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 325 | 32.3% |
| 2022 | 316 | 31.6% |
| 2023 | 299 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 258 | 30.2% |
| 2025 | 230 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Cooper
On a 2002 Cooper, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (21.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (12.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2002 MINI Coopers pass their MOT?
68.8% of the 1,428 2002 MINI Cooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 MINI Cooper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.4% of tests, followed by brakes (12.8%).
Does the 2002 Cooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,428 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.