2012 Mini Cooper S Auto — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,084 MOT tests analysed for the 2012 Mini Cooper S Auto, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility. Its pass rate of 86.6% was above the average for cars of a similar age (79.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 26.4% in the 90-120k group versus 8.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 65 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.7% | 51 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.8% | 41 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.8% | 30 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.4% | 26 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 31 |
| 3 | Wipers | 30 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 18 |
| 5 | Washers | 16 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 15 |
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 | 19.4% | 210 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.3% | 166 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 93 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.1% | 77 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.8% | 74 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 62 |
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 | 217 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 537 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 265 | 16.6% |
| 90-120k | 53 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 230 | 18.3% |
| 2022 | 212 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 228 | 15.8% |
| 2024 | 203 | 9.8% |
| 2025 | 211 | 11.4% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Cooper S Auto
Before buying a 2012 Mini Cooper S Auto, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 6.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.7% 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 S Autos pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 1,084 2012 Mini Cooper S Auto MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Mini Cooper S Auto?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by tyres (4.7%).
Does the 2012 Cooper S Auto get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 26.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,084 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.