Mini Cooper SD MOT failures and reliability
In 2023 the Mini Cooper SD took 2,667 MOT tests in Britain and passed 72% of them first time, close to the national average of 71% for all cars. The figures below come from the DVSA's record of every test, so they show what testers actually found on these cars rather than what owners report.
- MOT tests in 2023
- 2,667
- First-time pass rate
- 72%
- All cars
- 71%
What the Cooper SD fails on
Share of tests with at least one failure in each area, against the figure for all cars.
- Lights and electrics13.1% (all cars 11.3%)
- Tyres7.7% (all cars 6.4%)
- Suspension5.6% (all cars 9.0%)
- Brakes4.8% (all cars 6.8%)
- Visibility4.3% (all cars 4.8%)
- Exhaust and emissions1.4% (all cars 3.1%)
- Body and structure0.9% (all cars 3.5%)
- Wheels0.9% (all cars 0.4%)
Most common failure items
Share of tests on which each item was recorded.
- Position lamp: not working 6.3%
- Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2.7%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively 2.5%
- Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak 2.4%
- Stop lamp: not working 2.1%
- Service brake performance: excessively binding 1.4%
- Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps 1.4%
- Tyres, condition: has ply or cords exposed 1.4%
Most common advisories
- Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 18.8%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened 11.4%
- Tyres, condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 6.9%
- Road Wheels, condition: slightly distorted 5.4%
- Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil 5.3%
- Brake pads: wearing thin 5.2%
- Suspension arms, pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement 4.3%
- Service brake performance: binding but not excessively 3.0%
Pass rate by year of registration
Older cars fail more often whatever the model, so compare a car with others of the same age.
| First registered | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 543 | 68% |
| 2012 | 977 | 72% |
| 2013 | 1,080 | 74% |
Typical mileage by age
Average odometer reading at the MOT, by the car's age in years at the test.
| Age at test | Average mileage |
|---|---|
| 10 years | 75,785 miles |
| 11 years | 81,573 miles |
| 12 years | 90,180 miles |
Check a particular Cooper SD
Model figures tell you what to look out for. To see one car's own MOT history, mileage and tax, enter its registration.
Other Mini models
- Mini Mini
- Mini Cooper
- Mini Countryman
- Mini ONE
- Mini Clubman
- Mini John Cooper Works
- Mini Paceman
- Mini Roadster
- Mini First
Source: Department for Transport, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023, cars and light vans, normal tests only. Pass rates are first-time passes; a pass after repair at the test station counts as a fail. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.