2015 MINI John Cooper Works — MOT failures & pass rate
9,467 MOT tests on the 2015 MINI John Cooper Works are in this dataset, and 87.3% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail 17.5% of the time, so this is 4.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.6% of tests against 2.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 213 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.0% once past 120-150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.6% | 718 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 257 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.7% | 255 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.1% | 196 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 127 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 108 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 213 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 159 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 120 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 119 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 102 |
| 6 | Washers | 94 |
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 | 17.1% | 1,622 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.0% | 1,234 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.4% | 514 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.9% | 466 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.8% | 356 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 168 |
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 | 1,616 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 5,139 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 2,274 | 13.5% |
| 90-120k | 375 | 16.0% |
| 120-150k | 45 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,954 | 13.2% |
| 2022 | 1,866 | 11.8% |
| 2023 | 1,888 | 13.2% |
| 2024 | 1,897 | 12.8% |
| 2025 | 1,862 | 12.6% |
What to check before buying a 2015 John Cooper Works
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.7% 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.
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 2015 MINI John Cooper Workss pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 9,467 2015 MINI John Cooper Works MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 MINI John Cooper Works?
Tyres, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.7%).
Does the 2015 John Cooper Works get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 20.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,467 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.