MINI Cooper SD — MOT pass rate & failures
15,889 MOT tests on the MINI Cooper SD (2008–2017) give an 82.3% pass rate. That is 7.2 percentage points worse than the 10.5% fail rate across all MINI Cooper versions, so the Cooper SD is a weaker pick within the range. Failures concentrate in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and shock absorbers — position lamp alone was recorded 1,007 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.1% versus 8.5%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 3,266 | 80.5% | 19.5% |
| 2012 | 5,826 | 82.3% | 17.7% |
| 2013 | 6,428 | 82.9% | 17.1% |
| 2014 | 286 | 86.0% | 14.0% |
| 2015 | 53 | 94.3% | 5.7% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 1,782 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.9% | 945 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.3% | 840 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.0% | 634 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 511 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 173 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 115 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 107 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 1,007 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 528 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 504 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 488 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 316 |
| 6 | Wipers | 316 |
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 | 25.1% | 3,985 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.7% | 3,126 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.5% | 2,787 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 1,466 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.5% | 1,025 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 5.5% | 876 |
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 | 400 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,542 | 14.1% |
| 60-90k | 6,354 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 4,064 | 20.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,196 | 22.6% |
| 150k+ | 331 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,243 | 16.1% |
| 2022 | 3,266 | 17.3% |
| 2023 | 3,195 | 17.6% |
| 2024 | 3,104 | 17.7% |
| 2025 | 3,081 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a MINI Cooper SD
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.9% 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.
- Suspension (5.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 reliable is the MINI Cooper SD at MOT time?
82.3% of the 15,889 MINI Cooper SD MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.7% fail rate, worse than the 10.5% average across all Cooper versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a MINI Cooper SD?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests, followed by tyres (5.9%).
Does the Cooper SD get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 21.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,889 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.