2018 MINI John Cooper Works — MOT failures & pass rate
16,517 MOT tests on the 2018 MINI John Cooper Works are in this dataset, and 89.5% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail at 11.1%, so the 2018 John Cooper Works sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 7.7% of all tests — 5.4 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 372 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2018 John Cooper Works fails 9.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 13.2% at 90-120k, a spread of only 4.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 15.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.7% | 1,269 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.3% | 378 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.3% | 214 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 205 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 84 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 69 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 372 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 237 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 140 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 137 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 76 |
| 6 | Washers | 73 |
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 | 15.7% | 2,591 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.1% | 1,336 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.2% | 690 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.3% | 552 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 162 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 152 |
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 | 9,077 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 6,526 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 842 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 68 | 13.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,528 | 10.1% |
| 2022 | 3,299 | 9.1% |
| 2023 | 3,311 | 11.3% |
| 2024 | 3,155 | 10.1% |
| 2025 | 3,224 | 11.9% |
What to check before buying a 2018 John Cooper Works
On a 2018 John Cooper Works, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (2.3% 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 (1.3% 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 2018 MINI John Cooper Workss pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 16,517 2018 MINI John Cooper Works MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 MINI John Cooper Works?
Tyres, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by visibility (2.3%).
Does the 2018 John Cooper Works get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 13.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,517 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.