2012 Mini Cooper Sd — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,652 MOT tests analysed for the 2012 Mini Cooper Sd, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension. Its pass rate of 82.1% was above the average for cars of a similar age (79.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.2% in the 150k+ group versus 6.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 520 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.1% | 282 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.5% | 254 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.0% | 187 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 157 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 35 |
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 | 312 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 199 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 142 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 134 |
| 5 | Wipers | 103 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 80 |
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 | 25.3% | 1,175 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.6% | 960 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.4% | 811 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 442 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.6% | 306 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.7% | 267 |
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 | 101 | 6.9% |
| 30-60k | 884 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,868 | 17.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,288 | 20.6% |
| 120-150k | 417 | 22.5% |
| 150k+ | 92 | 27.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 956 | 16.4% |
| 2022 | 954 | 17.5% |
| 2023 | 938 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 883 | 16.2% |
| 2025 | 921 | 22.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Cooper Sd
Before buying a 2012 Mini Cooper Sd, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 11.2% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.1% 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 (5.5% 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 Sds pass their MOT?
82.1% of the 4,652 2012 Mini Cooper Sd MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Mini Cooper Sd?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests, followed by tyres (6.1%).
Does the 2012 Cooper Sd get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.9% in the 0-30k band to 27.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,652 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.