2012 Mini Cooper Clubman — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 892 MOT tests analysed for the 2012 Mini Cooper Clubman, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility. Its pass rate of 84.2% was above the average for cars of a similar age (79.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 23.8% in the 90-120k group versus 2.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 83 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.3% | 56 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.8% | 34 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.0% | 27 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.8% | 25 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 34 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 22 |
| 4 | Wipers | 20 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 19 |
| 6 | Washers | 18 |
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 | 25.2% | 225 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.8% | 186 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.2% | 127 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 74 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.6% | 68 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 44 |
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 | 37 | 2.7% |
| 30-60k | 328 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 379 | 17.4% |
| 90-120k | 105 | 23.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 171 | 10.5% |
| 2022 | 167 | 12.0% |
| 2023 | 189 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 186 | 18.3% |
| 2025 | 179 | 20.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Cooper Clubman
Before buying a 2012 Mini Cooper Clubman, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 9.3% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.3% 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 (3.8% 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.
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 2012 Mini Cooper Clubmans pass their MOT?
84.2% of the 892 2012 Mini Cooper Clubman MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Mini Cooper Clubman?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by tyres (6.3%).
Does the 2012 Cooper Clubman get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.7% in the 0-30k band to 23.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 892 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.