2006 MINI Cooper — MOT failures & pass rate
4,635 MOT tests on the 2006 MINI Cooper are in this dataset, and 72.5% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail 28.5% of the time, so this is 1.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.2% of all tests — 5.7 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 313 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.0% versus 15.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.2% in 2021 to 26.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 704 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.5% | 439 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.7% | 404 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 362 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 326 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.2% | 242 |
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 | 313 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 288 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 286 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 257 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 253 |
| 6 | Joints | 203 |
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 | 40.7% | 1,885 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.4% | 1,457 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 30.7% | 1,421 |
| 4 | Tyres | 26.5% | 1,226 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 845 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 604 |
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 | 137 | 15.3% |
| 30-60k | 636 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,630 | 28.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,590 | 29.8% |
| 120-150k | 540 | 30.0% |
| 150k+ | 100 | 27.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 904 | 28.2% |
| 2022 | 959 | 27.0% |
| 2023 | 923 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 994 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 855 | 26.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Cooper
On a 2006 Cooper, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.5% 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.
- Brakes (8.7% 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.
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 2006 MINI Coopers pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 4,635 2006 MINI Cooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 MINI Cooper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by suspension (9.5%).
Does the 2006 Cooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.3% in the 0-30k band to 27.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,635 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.