2009 Mini Cooper — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,961 MOT tests analysed for the 2009 Mini Cooper, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes. Its pass rate of 75.8% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (73.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 29.0% in the 150k+ group versus 7.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 668 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 11.1% | 552 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.7% | 281 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.0% | 250 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.7% | 232 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 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 | 922 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 370 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 311 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 139 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 129 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 125 |
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 | 26.5% | 1,313 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.4% | 1,310 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.4% | 1,213 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.3% | 760 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 742 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.8% | 583 |
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 | 135 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 908 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,936 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,417 | 28.9% |
| 120-150k | 458 | 30.1% |
| 150k+ | 107 | 29.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,981 | 24.1% |
| Diesel | 980 | 24.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 859 | 22.0% |
| 2022 | 965 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 990 | 24.2% |
| 2024 | 1,122 | 26.7% |
| 2025 | 1,025 | 24.7% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Cooper
Before buying a 2009 Mini Cooper, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 13.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (11.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (5.7% 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 2009 Mini Coopers pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 4,961 2009 Mini Cooper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Mini Cooper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (11.1%).
Does the 2009 Cooper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 29.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,961 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.