2009 MINI Cooper — MOT failures & pass rate
7,513 MOT tests on the 2009 MINI Cooper are in this dataset, and 76.9% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 2009 Cooper comes out 3.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests against 9.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 1,045 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.8% in the 0-30k band and 25.3% in the 150k+ band, a 18.6-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 22.9% of the time against 24.1% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 988 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 9.1% | 681 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.3% | 395 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.2% | 393 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.5% | 342 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 299 |
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 | 1,045 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 538 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 436 |
| 4 | Wipers | 196 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 191 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 190 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.3% | 1,899 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.8% | 1,863 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.5% | 1,769 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.9% | 1,194 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 1,068 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.6% | 872 |
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 | 296 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,516 | 17.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,957 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,004 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 593 | 28.3% |
| 150k+ | 146 | 25.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,150 | 22.9% |
| Diesel | 1,363 | 24.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,348 | 21.2% |
| 2022 | 1,471 | 21.8% |
| 2023 | 1,511 | 22.7% |
| 2024 | 1,662 | 24.9% |
| 2025 | 1,521 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Cooper
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Tyres (5.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2009 MINI Coopers pass their MOT?
76.9% of the 7,513 2009 MINI Cooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 MINI Cooper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (9.1%).
Does the 2009 Cooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 25.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,513 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.