2020 MINI Cooper — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 110,181 MOT tests, the 2020 MINI Cooper recorded a 92.4% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (8.8% fail rate), the 2020 Cooper comes out 1.2pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.1%) and visibility (3.3%) 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 3,662 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.9% once past 90-120k — 2.0× the risk.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 2.5pp more often than petrol ones (9.8% vs 7.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.3% in 2021 to 8.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.1% | 5,587 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.3% | 3,615 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 1,385 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.0% | 1,071 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.2% | 204 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.1% | 165 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 3,662 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,614 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,033 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 942 |
| 5 | Washers | 651 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 245 |
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 | 22.4% | 24,683 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.1% | 6,748 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.9% | 4,316 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.8% | 4,161 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.3% | 1,415 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 347 |
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 | 78,237 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 29,520 | 9.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,185 | 11.3% |
| 90-120k | 216 | 13.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 92,550 | 7.3% |
| Electric | 10,681 | 8.7% |
| Hybrid | 6,867 | 9.8% |
| Diesel | 83 | 6.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73 | 12.3% |
| 2022 | 1,818 | 3.8% |
| 2023 | 37,039 | 7.1% |
| 2024 | 35,395 | 7.6% |
| 2025 | 35,856 | 8.3% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Cooper
On a 2020 Cooper, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.1% 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 (3.3% 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 (1.3% 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 2020 MINI Coopers pass their MOT?
92.4% of the 110,181 2020 MINI Cooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 MINI Cooper?
Tyres, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by visibility (3.3%).
Does the 2020 Cooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 13.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 110,181 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.