2008 MINI Cooper — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,998 MOT tests, the 2008 MINI Cooper recorded a 74.6% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (27.2% fail rate), the 2008 Cooper comes out 1.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.9% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 951 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.8% versus 12.7%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.9pp more often than petrol ones (27.0% vs 25.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 974 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 9.9% | 695 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.0% | 488 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.1% | 426 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.7% | 402 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 303 |
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 | 951 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 496 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 465 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 242 |
| 5 | Wipers | 212 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 211 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 27.0% | 1,887 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.3% | 1,773 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.3% | 1,772 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.4% | 1,570 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 1,109 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.0% | 696 |
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 | 213 | 12.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,065 | 16.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,499 | 24.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,204 | 30.0% |
| 120-150k | 755 | 29.9% |
| 150k+ | 262 | 32.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,694 | 25.1% |
| Diesel | 1,304 | 27.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,325 | 23.7% |
| 2022 | 1,415 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 1,392 | 24.8% |
| 2024 | 1,509 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 1,357 | 28.2% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Cooper
On a 2008 Cooper, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (7.0% 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.
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 2008 MINI Coopers pass their MOT?
74.6% of the 6,998 2008 MINI Cooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 MINI Cooper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (9.9%).
Does the 2008 Cooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.7% in the 0-30k band to 32.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,998 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.