Mini John Cooper Works
From 45,083 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer John Cooper Workss fare better: 2022 models pass at 96.5% vs 77.4% for 2012.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen and tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 1,427 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a tyre seriously damaged | 1,427 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 290 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 277 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 265 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 170 |
| a tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. this includes any lifting of the tread rubber | 170 |
| windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view | 143 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 103 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 97 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 91 |
Mini John Cooper Works on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 3,474 newly registered in the past year with 217 leaving, a net gain of 3,257. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 32,170 | 1,330 | +963 | -100 | +863 |
| 2025 Q2 | 31,386 | 1,251 | +754 | -0 | +950 |
| 2025 Q1 | 30,260 | 1,427 | +910 | -0 | +975 |
| 2024 Q4 | 29,334 | 1,378 | +847 | -117 | +730 |
| 2024 Q3 | 28,836 | 1,146 | +287 | -58 | +229 |
| 2024 Q2 | 28,642 | 1,111 | +633 | -0 | +708 |
| 2024 Q1 | 27,905 | 1,140 | +1,035 | -140 | +895 |
| 2023 Q4 | 26,952 | 1,198 | +816 | -57 | +759 |
18 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Cooper Works Auto | Petrol | 11,884 | 37% |
| John Cooper Works | Petrol | 8,221 | 26% |
| Countryman John Cooper Works A | Petrol | 5,445 | 17% |
| Clubman John Cooper Works A4 A | Petrol | 2,697 | 8% |
| Countryman John Cooper Works | Petrol | 674 | 2% |
| Mini John Cooper Works | Petrol | 623 | 2% |
| John Cooper Works Electric | Battery Electric | 323 | 1% |
| Paceman John Cooper Works | Petrol | 318 | <1% |
| Roadster John Cooper Works | Petrol | 292 | <1% |
| John Cooper Works Gp Auto | Petrol | 267 | <1% |
| Cooper S Jcw | Petrol | 200 | <1% |
| Clubman John Cooper Works All4 | Petrol | 184 | <1% |
| John Cooper Works Clubman | Petrol | 178 | <1% |
| John Cooper Works Gp | Petrol | 162 | <1% |
| Cooper S Jcw Gp | Petrol | 160 | <1% |
| John Cooper Works 1To6 Ed | Petrol | 144 | <1% |
| Mini Roadster Johncooperworks | Petrol | 114 | <1% |
| Paceman John Cooper Works Auto | Petrol | 94 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 96.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2021 | 92.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2020 | 92.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2019 | 91.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
10 earlier years
| 2018 | 90% | a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2017 | 88.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2016 | 88.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2015 | 88.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2014 | 86.1% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2013 | 84.4% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2012 | 77.4% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2011 | 87.4% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2010 | 74.2% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution. |
| 2009 | 85.4% | lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, emissions levels exceed default limits |
Typical mileage
Half of all John Cooper Workss tested had between 47,215 and 76,450 miles on the clock.
At 53,117 median miles, the John Cooper Works has 0.019 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mini models
| Mini Mini | 71.5% |
| Mini Cooper | 87% |
| Mini Cooper S | 88.5% |
| Mini Countryman | 88.5% |
| Mini One | 83.1% |
Common questions
What is the Mini John Cooper Works MOT pass rate?
The Mini John Cooper Works has a 90.1% MOT pass rate based on 45,083 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mini John Cooper Works?
The most common MOT failure on the Mini John Cooper Works is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 1,427 failures. Other common issues include wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen.
How many Mini John Cooper Workss are on UK roads?
There are 32,170 Mini John Cooper Workss currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,330 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mini John Cooper Works at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mini John Cooper Works is 53,117 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 47,215 and 76,450 miles.
Buying a used John Cooper Works?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.