2017 Mini John Cooper Works — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 17,383 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Mini John Cooper Works, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 88.8% was above the average for cars of a similar age (87.6%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.7% | 1,331 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.4% | 416 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 286 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 265 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 112 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 105 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 406 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 292 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 173 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 159 |
| 5 | Washers | 98 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 93 |
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 | 17.2% | 2,981 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.4% | 1,641 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.0% | 692 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.3% | 565 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 266 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.2% | 211 |
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 | 7,109 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 8,309 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,800 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 152 | 11.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,514 | 9.5% |
| 2022 | 3,495 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 3,521 | 12.0% |
| 2024 | 3,489 | 12.5% |
| 2025 | 3,364 | 10.9% |
What to check before buying a 2017 John Cooper Works
Before buying a 2017 Mini John Cooper Works, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 7.7% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (7.7% 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.
- Visibility (2.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2017 Mini John Cooper Workss pass their MOT?
88.8% of the 17,383 2017 Mini John Cooper Works MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Mini John Cooper Works?
Tyres, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by visibility (2.4%).
Does the 2017 John Cooper Works get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 0-30k band to 11.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,383 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.