2007 MINI Cooper — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 MINI Cooper passed 73.9% of its 8,353 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 27.9% of the time, so this is 1.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests against 10.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 1,238 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.9% in the 0-30k band and 32.9% in the 150k+ band, a 19.0-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 26.0% of the time against 27.1% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 24.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 1,261 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 10.2% | 848 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.0% | 667 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.6% | 552 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.1% | 425 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 369 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 1,238 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 794 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 536 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 298 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 249 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 244 |
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 | 27.0% | 2,255 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.9% | 2,165 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.0% | 2,086 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 24.8% | 2,071 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 1,312 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.4% | 866 |
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 | 180 | 13.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,178 | 17.1% |
| 60-90k | 3,125 | 25.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,699 | 29.4% |
| 120-150k | 948 | 31.0% |
| 150k+ | 216 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,596 | 26.0% |
| Diesel | 757 | 27.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,689 | 24.9% |
| 2022 | 1,782 | 24.7% |
| 2023 | 1,676 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 1,725 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 1,481 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Cooper
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (10.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (8.0% 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 2007 MINI Coopers pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 8,353 2007 MINI Cooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 MINI Cooper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (10.2%).
Does the 2007 Cooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.9% in the 0-30k band to 32.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,353 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.