2016 Mini Cooper — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 148,524 MOT tests analysed for the 2016 Mini Cooper, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 89.9% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (84.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 17.6% in the 150k+ group versus 7.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.2% | 7,746 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.3% | 6,398 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 4,518 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.9% | 2,756 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 1,609 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 702 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 6,059 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,675 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,540 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 2,234 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,583 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,421 |
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% | 38,977 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.0% | 14,905 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.1% | 7,650 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.8% | 7,072 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.1% | 3,086 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.4% | 2,010 |
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 | 37,742 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 75,601 | 9.9% |
| 60-90k | 28,445 | 12.8% |
| 90-120k | 5,589 | 16.3% |
| 120-150k | 938 | 17.3% |
| 150k+ | 204 | 17.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 110,126 | 9.5% |
| Diesel | 38,398 | 11.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 29,626 | 9.0% |
| 2022 | 29,715 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 29,647 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 29,694 | 10.6% |
| 2025 | 29,842 | 11.4% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Cooper
Before buying a 2016 Mini Cooper, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.2% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.2% 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 (4.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2016 Mini Coopers pass their MOT?
89.9% of the 148,524 2016 Mini Cooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Mini Cooper?
Tyres, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by visibility (4.3%).
Does the 2016 Cooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 17.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 148,524 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.