2016 Mini Cooper S — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 51,611 MOT tests analysed for the 2016 Mini Cooper S, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 89.4% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (84.5%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 3,037 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.4% | 1,769 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 1,372 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.8% | 942 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 479 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 278 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,696 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 901 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 865 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 610 |
| 5 | Washers | 426 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 379 |
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 | 22.7% | 11,720 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.6% | 6,010 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.8% | 2,473 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.8% | 2,463 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 2.8% | 1,462 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.4% | 1,257 |
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 | 12,726 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 27,048 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 9,882 | 13.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,677 | 13.1% |
| 120-150k | 241 | 16.2% |
| 150k+ | 34 | 11.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 37,019 | 10.5% |
| Diesel | 14,592 | 10.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,381 | 9.7% |
| 2022 | 10,385 | 10.1% |
| 2023 | 10,325 | 10.9% |
| 2024 | 10,261 | 10.9% |
| 2025 | 10,259 | 11.4% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Cooper S
Before buying a 2016 Mini Cooper S, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.9% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.9% 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 (3.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2016 Mini Cooper Ss pass their MOT?
89.4% of the 51,611 2016 Mini Cooper S MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Mini Cooper S?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by visibility (3.4%).
Does the 2016 Cooper S get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 11.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 51,611 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.