2012 Mini Countryman Cooper S All4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 531 MOT tests analysed for the 2012 Mini Countryman Cooper S All4, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 84.4% was above the average for cars of a similar age (79.4%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 43 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.7% | 30 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 22 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.2% | 17 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 16 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.6% | 14 |
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 | 26 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 14 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 12 |
| 5 | Washers | 10 |
| 6 | Wipers | 10 |
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 | 22.6% | 120 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.8% | 68 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 10.4% | 55 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.8% | 52 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.3% | 39 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.0% | 32 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 163 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 235 | 17.0% |
| 90-120k | 102 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 104 | 11.5% |
| 2022 | 104 | 12.5% |
| 2023 | 116 | 18.1% |
| 2024 | 106 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 101 | 16.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Countryman Cooper S All4
Before buying a 2012 Mini Countryman Cooper S All4, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 8.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (8.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.7% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (4.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2012 Mini Countryman Cooper S All4s pass their MOT?
84.4% of the 531 2012 Mini Countryman Cooper S All4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Mini Countryman Cooper S All4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.1% of tests, followed by tyres (5.7%).
Does the 2012 Countryman Cooper S All4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 30-60k band to 16.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 531 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.