2013 MINI John Cooper Works — MOT failures & pass rate
4,693 MOT tests on the 2013 MINI John Cooper Works are in this dataset, and 85.7% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (21.1% fail rate), the 2013 John Cooper Works comes out 6.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.0%) and suspension (4.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, shock absorbers and catalyst emissions — position lamp alone was recorded 184 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.0% versus 7.5%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 330 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.5% | 211 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.2% | 197 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 137 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 98 |
| 6 | Brakes | 2.1% | 97 |
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 | 184 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 139 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 120 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 100 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 94 |
| 6 | Wipers | 92 |
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 | 17.4% | 817 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.3% | 766 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.3% | 626 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 390 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.2% | 245 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.5% | 212 |
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 | 518 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,945 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,758 | 16.7% |
| 90-120k | 413 | 17.7% |
| 120-150k | 48 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 957 | 13.0% |
| 2022 | 925 | 13.4% |
| 2023 | 939 | 14.6% |
| 2024 | 934 | 15.4% |
| 2025 | 938 | 15.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 John Cooper Works
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.5% 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.
- Tyres (4.2% 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.
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 2013 MINI John Cooper Workss pass their MOT?
85.7% of the 4,693 2013 MINI John Cooper Works MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 MINI John Cooper Works?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by suspension (4.5%).
Does the 2013 John Cooper Works get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 25.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,693 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.