MOT Intelligence
Mini MOT Failures & Common Issues
The components UK cars most commonly fail their MOT on, plus the known issues to watch for on a Mini. Check any car's full MOT history free in seconds.
~76%
Avg Pass Rate (UK)
~1.4
Avg Failures/Test (UK)
~2.1
Avg Advisories (UK)
Most Common MOT Failure Categories
Typical across all UK cars — a useful guide to what to check first.
Lighting
31%
LOW
Tyres
22%
HIGH
Brakes
18%
HIGH
Suspension
14%
MEDIUM
Emissions
9%
MEDIUM
Steering
6%
HIGH
Common Issues — Mini
Timing chain rattle (petrol)HIGH
£700–£1,500 · Known on Cooper / Cooper S petrol
Petrol2007–2016
Turbo / DPF / EGR faults (1.6 HDi)MEDIUM
£300–£1,200 · Common on 1.6 HDi/TDCi diesels (shared PSA engine)
Diesel1.6L–1.6L
Carbon build-up on inlet valves (turbo petrol)MEDIUM
£250–£600 · Direct-injection turbo petrol engines
PetrolCOOPER S / JCW
EGR cooler coolant leak (B47 2.0d)MEDIUM
£400–£1,000 · Subject of a safety recall on some B47 diesels
Diesel1.9L–2.1L2014–now
PAS pump, clutch & supercharger wear (R53 Cooper S)MEDIUM
£200–£900 · Electro-hydraulic steering pump & clutch on the supercharged R53
PetrolCOOPER S / JOHN COOPER WORKS / JCW2002–2006
Based on commonly reported faults for this make/model. Individual vehicles vary — run a check for the full MOT and mileage history of a specific car.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Check all lights are operational before the test drive
Inspect tyre tread depth on all four corners
Test brake pedal feel and stopping performance
Listen for suspension knocks over speed bumps
Request the full MOT history from the seller (or run a free check here)
Check a Specific Mini
Enter a registration to get the full MOT history, mileage check and risk analysis for any Mini.
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