2021 MINI John Cooper Works — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,810 MOT tests, the 2021 MINI John Cooper Works recorded a 92.8% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail at 7.7%, so the 2021 John Cooper Works sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 5.4% of all tests — 3.7 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 97 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2021 John Cooper Works fails 7.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.2% at 60-90k, a spread of only 1.2 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.4% of tests failed in 2023 against 6.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.4% | 314 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.7% | 97 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 70 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.5% | 32 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.3% | 19 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 17 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 97 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 97 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 55 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 31 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 25 |
| 6 | Washers | 19 |
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 | 17.8% | 1,031 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.5% | 376 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.5% | 201 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.3% | 193 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 27 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 16 |
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 | 4,332 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,413 | 7.8% |
| 60-90k | 61 | 8.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 204 | 5.4% |
| 2024 | 2,796 | 7.6% |
| 2025 | 2,808 | 6.9% |
What to check before buying a 2021 John Cooper Works
On a 2021 John Cooper Works, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.4% 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 (1.7% 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.
- 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 2021 MINI John Cooper Workss pass their MOT?
92.8% of the 5,810 2021 MINI John Cooper Works MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 MINI John Cooper Works?
Tyres, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by visibility (1.7%).
Does the 2021 John Cooper Works get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 8.2% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,810 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.