2022 MINI Cooper — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2022 MINI Cooper passed 92.8% of its 39,540 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail at 6.9%, so the 2022 Cooper sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 5.8% of all tests — 4.3 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 521 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 12.0% once past 60-90k.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 2.5pp more often than petrol ones (9.5% vs 7.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 2,281 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.5% | 590 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 432 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.5% | 213 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.2% | 63 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 60 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 521 |
| 2 | Wipers | 457 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 297 |
| 4 | Washers | 222 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 181 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 99 |
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 | 19.5% | 7,705 |
| 2 | Other defects | 3.6% | 1,443 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.1% | 1,223 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 1,106 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.0% | 395 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 108 |
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 | 33,207 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 6,129 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 184 | 12.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 29,439 | 7.1% |
| Electric | 8,095 | 7.2% |
| Hybrid | 2,006 | 9.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,086 | 4.3% |
| 2025 | 37,430 | 7.4% |
What to check before buying a 2022 Cooper
On a 2022 Cooper, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.8% 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 (1.5% 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 (1.1% 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 2022 MINI Coopers pass their MOT?
92.8% of the 39,540 2022 MINI Cooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 MINI Cooper?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by visibility (1.5%).
Does the 2022 Cooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 12.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 39,540 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.