2016 MINI John Cooper Works — MOT failures & pass rate
11,643 MOT tests on the 2016 MINI John Cooper Works are in this dataset, and 87.9% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (15.5% fail rate), the 2016 John Cooper Works comes out 3.4pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 8.1% of all tests — 5.2 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 298 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.1% versus 10.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.1% | 939 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.9% | 338 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.7% | 201 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 202 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 102 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 77 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 298 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 170 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 152 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 93 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 83 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 77 |
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 | 16.9% | 1,964 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.6% | 1,238 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.3% | 497 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.6% | 420 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.0% | 355 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 110 |
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 | 3,321 | 10.4% |
| 30-60k | 6,183 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,868 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 248 | 16.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,329 | 11.1% |
| 2022 | 2,330 | 11.6% |
| 2023 | 2,346 | 12.0% |
| 2024 | 2,335 | 13.1% |
| 2025 | 2,303 | 12.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 John Cooper Works
On a 2016 John Cooper Works, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (8.1% 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 (2.9% 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.
- Brakes (1.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2016 MINI John Cooper Workss pass their MOT?
87.9% of the 11,643 2016 MINI John Cooper Works MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 MINI John Cooper Works?
Tyres, recorded in 8.1% of tests, followed by visibility (2.9%).
Does the 2016 John Cooper Works get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.4% in the 0-30k band to 16.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,643 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.