MINI John Cooper Works Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the MINI John Cooper Works fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 49,626 MOT tests across 14 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: family car | Fuel: Petrol
92%
MINI John Cooper Works pass rate
84%
MINI average
82%
All-model average
The MINI John Cooper Works has an average MOT pass rate of 92%, which is 8 points above the MINI average and 10 points above the average across all models in our data. Newer MINI John Cooper Workss pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 6 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the MINI John Cooper Works Fails Its MOT On
Of the 2,930 MOT tests on the MINI John Cooper Works that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Tyres
53%Cars and vans the same age: 30% (the John Cooper Works fails on this more often) · Typical repair £50-£300
Lights and electrics
16%Cars and vans the same age: 28% (the John Cooper Works fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
16%Cars and vans the same age: 17% · Typical repair £10-£350
Brakes
12%Cars and vans the same age: 19% (the John Cooper Works fails on this less often) · Typical repair £80-£450
Suspension
8.9%Cars and vans the same age: 21% (the John Cooper Works fails on this less often) · Typical repair £150-£600
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Tyre has a bulge from separation or failure of its structure (21% of failed tests, tyres)
- Tyre has a cut deep enough to reach the ply or cords (14% of failed tests, tyres)
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively (11% of failed tests, windscreen, wipers and mirrors)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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MINI John Cooper Works Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each John Cooper Works year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
MINI John Cooper Works Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Petrol | 2.0L | 96% | 3% | - |
| 2021 | Petrol | 2.0L | 95% | 5% | 93% (+2) |
| 2020 | Petrol | 2.0L | 94% | 5% | 92% (+2) |
| 2019 | Petrol | 1.5L | 93% | 6% | 91% (+2) |
| 2018 | Petrol | 1.5L | 92% | 8% | 89% (+3) |
| 2017 | Petrol | 2.0L | 90% | 10% | 87% (+3) |
| 2016 | Petrol | 1.6L | 90% | 9% | 86% (+4) |
| 2015 | Petrol | 2.0L | 91% | 9% | 84% (+7) |
| 2014 | Petrol | 1.6L | 88% | 11% | - |
| 2013 | Petrol | 1.6L | 88% | 12% | 80% (+8) |
| 2012 | Petrol | 1.6L | 85% | 15% | - |
| 2011 | Petrol | 1.6L | 91% | 9% | - |
| 2010 | Petrol | 1.6L | 83% | 17% | - |
| 2009 | Petrol | 1.6L | 83% | 14% | - |
MINI John Cooper Works Running Costs
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MINI John Cooper Works FAQ
What are the most common MINI John Cooper Works problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the MINI John Cooper Works that failed at the first attempt most often failed on tyres (53% of the 2,930 failed tests), lights and electrics (16%) and windscreen, wipers and mirrors (16%). The single most common fault was "Tyre has a bulge from separation or failure of its structure" (21%). Across 49,626 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 92% ended in a pass.
Is the MINI John Cooper Works reliable?
The MINI John Cooper Works has an average MOT pass rate of 92%, from 49,626 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 3 points more often on average, a better than average result for its age.
Which MINI John Cooper Works years should I avoid?
No MINI John Cooper Works year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). The years that passed most often for their age were the 2013 (88% of 1,744 tests passed, against 80% for all 2013 cars), the 2015 (91% of 4,383 tests passed, against 84% for all 2015 cars) and the 2016 (90% of 5,156 tests passed, against 86% for all 2016 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common MINI John Cooper Works faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a MINI John Cooper Works typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other MINI Models
Common problems pages for other MINI models