2017 MINI Cooper — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 207,231 MOT tests, the 2017 MINI Cooper recorded a 90.5% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (13.3% fail rate), the 2017 Cooper comes out 3.8pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.2%) and visibility (4.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 8,627 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.2% in the 0-30k band and 18.0% in the 150k+ band, a 10.8-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.5pp more often than petrol ones (11.7% vs 9.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.2% | 10,865 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.2% | 8,693 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 4,975 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.8% | 3,756 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 1,166 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 1,029 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 8,627 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 3,662 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 3,653 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 3,254 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,846 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,075 |
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 | 24.6% | 50,881 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.8% | 20,422 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.7% | 9,750 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.6% | 9,622 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.7% | 3,557 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.4% | 2,904 |
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 | 78,569 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 99,175 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 25,084 | 13.0% |
| 90-120k | 3,728 | 16.2% |
| 120-150k | 518 | 17.6% |
| 150k+ | 150 | 18.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 173,596 | 9.1% |
| Diesel | 33,630 | 11.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 41,258 | 7.6% |
| 2022 | 41,433 | 9.2% |
| 2023 | 41,749 | 10.0% |
| 2024 | 41,331 | 10.3% |
| 2025 | 41,460 | 10.6% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Cooper
On a 2017 Cooper, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (4.2% 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 (2.4% 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 2017 MINI Coopers pass their MOT?
90.5% of the 207,231 2017 MINI Cooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 MINI Cooper?
Tyres, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by visibility (4.2%).
Does the 2017 Cooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 18.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 207,231 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.