2011 MINI Cooper — MOT failures & pass rate
19,362 MOT tests on the 2011 MINI Cooper are in this dataset, and 81.5% of them passed. That is 5.5 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 24.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.4% of all tests — 8.9 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and tread depth — position lamp alone was recorded 1,691 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.7% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.5pp more often than petrol ones (19.9% vs 16.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 2,786 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.5% | 1,070 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.3% | 841 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.2% | 813 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 764 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 377 |
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 | 1,691 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 833 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 611 |
| 4 | Wipers | 503 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 446 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 442 |
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 | 25.7% | 4,970 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.7% | 4,001 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.1% | 3,512 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 2,066 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.9% | 1,528 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.9% | 1,326 |
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 | 603 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 4,052 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 7,432 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 5,128 | 21.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,694 | 23.0% |
| 150k+ | 449 | 22.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,863 | 19.9% |
| Petrol | 7,499 | 16.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,753 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 3,870 | 17.1% |
| 2023 | 3,863 | 18.3% |
| 2024 | 4,039 | 20.1% |
| 2025 | 3,837 | 19.6% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Cooper
On a 2011 Cooper, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.5% 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.
- Suspension (4.3% 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 2011 MINI Coopers pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 19,362 2011 MINI Cooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 MINI Cooper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by tyres (5.5%).
Does the 2011 Cooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 22.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,362 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.