2012 Mini Cooper D London 2012 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,112 MOT tests analysed for the 2012 Mini Cooper D London 2012, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension. Its pass rate of 81.0% was above the average for cars of a similar age (79.4%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 119 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.0% | 78 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.5% | 72 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.2% | 47 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.2% | 36 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.4% | 16 |
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 | 64 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 48 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 41 |
| 4 | Wipers | 32 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 29 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 26 |
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 | 24.8% | 276 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.9% | 232 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.9% | 210 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 105 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 8.3% | 92 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.0% | 78 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 201 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 469 | 17.5% |
| 90-120k | 279 | 20.4% |
| 120-150k | 98 | 24.5% |
| 150k+ | 37 | 21.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 222 | 16.2% |
| 2022 | 226 | 17.3% |
| 2023 | 223 | 18.8% |
| 2024 | 222 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 219 | 23.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Cooper D London 2012
Before buying a 2012 Mini Cooper D London 2012, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 10.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.0% 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.
- Suspension (6.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 D London 2012s pass their MOT?
81.0% of the 1,112 2012 Mini Cooper D London 2012 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Mini Cooper D London 2012?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by tyres (7.0%).
Does the 2012 Cooper D London 2012 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.9% in the 30-60k band to 21.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,112 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.