2004 MINI Cooper — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 MINI Cooper passed 70.8% of its 3,560 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail at 29.3%, so the 2004 Cooper sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.5% of all tests — 5.5 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 pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 348 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.6% in the 0-30k band and 34.8% in the 150k+ band, a 20.2-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 48.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 587 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.0% | 392 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.8% | 383 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 298 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.1% | 216 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 213 |
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 | 348 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 238 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 195 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 160 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 158 |
| 6 | Joints | 155 |
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 | 48.3% | 1,720 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 38.3% | 1,365 |
| 3 | Suspension | 31.2% | 1,111 |
| 4 | Tyres | 25.8% | 920 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.9% | 639 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.9% | 529 |
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 | 89 | 14.6% |
| 30-60k | 331 | 18.7% |
| 60-90k | 882 | 28.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,332 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 745 | 33.4% |
| 150k+ | 178 | 34.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 711 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 778 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | 723 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 717 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 631 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Cooper
On a 2004 Cooper, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.0% 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 (10.8% 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 2004 MINI Coopers pass their MOT?
70.8% of the 3,560 2004 MINI Cooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 MINI Cooper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by brakes (11.0%).
Does the 2004 Cooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 0-30k band to 34.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,560 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.