2020 MINI John Cooper Works — MOT failures & pass rate
9,345 MOT tests on the 2020 MINI John Cooper Works are in this dataset, and 92.1% of them passed. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (8.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests against 1.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 165 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.8% once past 60-90k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 2.9% of tests failed in 2022 against 8.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 556 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.9% | 177 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 113 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.0% | 95 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.4% | 38 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.2% | 22 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 165 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 152 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 91 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 78 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 63 |
| 6 | Washers | 40 |
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 | 17.6% | 1,646 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.0% | 845 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.7% | 343 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.1% | 293 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 70 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 40 |
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 | 6,435 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 2,742 | 9.0% |
| 60-90k | 159 | 13.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 209 | 2.9% |
| 2023 | 3,096 | 7.9% |
| 2024 | 3,018 | 7.6% |
| 2025 | 3,015 | 8.6% |
What to check before buying a 2020 John Cooper Works
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.9% 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 (1.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.2% 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 2020 MINI John Cooper Workss pass their MOT?
92.1% of the 9,345 2020 MINI John Cooper Works MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 MINI John Cooper Works?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by visibility (1.9%).
Does the 2020 John Cooper Works get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 13.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,345 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.