2018 MINI Cooper — MOT failures & pass rate
221,468 MOT tests on the 2018 MINI Cooper are in this dataset, and 91.9% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail 11.1% of the time, so this is 3.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.8%) and visibility (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 7,979 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.5% in the 0-30k band and 15.7% in the 120-150k band, a 9.1-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 8.0% fail against 10.2% for diesel, a 2.1-point gap across 221,462 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 10,624 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.6% | 7,935 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 3,407 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 3,182 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 770 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 678 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 7,979 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,311 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 2,977 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,927 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,494 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 667 |
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 | 21.8% | 48,295 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.9% | 17,550 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.6% | 10,283 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.3% | 9,478 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.5% | 3,221 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.8% | 1,785 |
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 | 121,936 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 85,197 | 9.6% |
| 60-90k | 12,845 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,297 | 15.8% |
| 120-150k | 166 | 15.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 210,837 | 8.0% |
| Diesel | 10,625 | 10.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 44,968 | 6.4% |
| 2022 | 44,429 | 7.1% |
| 2023 | 44,178 | 8.5% |
| 2024 | 43,795 | 9.3% |
| 2025 | 44,098 | 9.4% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Cooper
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.8% 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 (3.6% 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 (1.5% 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 2018 MINI Coopers pass their MOT?
91.9% of the 221,468 2018 MINI Cooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 MINI Cooper?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by visibility (3.6%).
Does the 2018 Cooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 15.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 221,468 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.