2008 Mini Cooper — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,283 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Mini Cooper, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes. Its pass rate of 73.8% was in line with the average for superminis of a similar age (72.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 34.6% in the 150k+ group versus 13.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 620 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 11.8% | 505 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.1% | 305 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.2% | 264 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.2% | 224 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 194 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 741 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 328 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 298 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 149 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 135 |
| 6 | Wipers | 132 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 27.6% | 1,184 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.6% | 1,097 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.1% | 1,073 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.0% | 900 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 692 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.8% | 421 |
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 | 132 | 13.6% |
| 30-60k | 641 | 17.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,518 | 24.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,340 | 31.3% |
| 120-150k | 473 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 179 | 34.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,432 | 25.8% |
| Diesel | 851 | 27.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 773 | 24.1% |
| 2022 | 862 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 848 | 25.1% |
| 2024 | 944 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 856 | 29.8% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Cooper
Before buying a 2008 Mini Cooper, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 14.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (11.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (7.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2008 Mini Coopers pass their MOT?
73.8% of the 4,283 2008 Mini Cooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Mini Cooper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (11.8%).
Does the 2008 Cooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.6% in the 0-30k band to 34.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,283 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.