2010 Mini Cooper — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,278 MOT tests analysed for the 2010 Mini Cooper, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility. Its pass rate of 80.5% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (74.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 21.5% in the 150k+ group versus 8.2% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 741 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.9% | 259 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.9% | 257 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.5% | 237 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 225 |
| 6 | Suspension | 4.1% | 215 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 421 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 293 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 202 |
| 4 | Wipers | 163 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 149 |
| 6 | Washers | 133 |
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 | 26.2% | 1,385 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.9% | 1,262 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.5% | 1,082 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 736 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.9% | 628 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.3% | 491 |
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 | 270 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,059 | 14.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,984 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,402 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 455 | 22.9% |
| 150k+ | 107 | 21.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,031 | 18.9% |
| Diesel | 1,247 | 21.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 914 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 1,034 | 18.6% |
| 2023 | 1,061 | 20.4% |
| 2024 | 1,164 | 19.8% |
| 2025 | 1,105 | 20.6% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Cooper
Before buying a 2010 Mini Cooper, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 14.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.9% 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.
- Visibility (4.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2010 Mini Coopers pass their MOT?
80.5% of the 5,278 2010 Mini Cooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Mini Cooper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by tyres (4.9%).
Does the 2010 Cooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 21.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,278 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.