(2021 registrations)
2021 cohort
at first test
after a failure
MINI was Britain’s seventh best-selling new car in 2023 with 33,385 registrations, and the hatch has been a fixture of the chart for two decades. A 2021 car is a late F56 — an all-new MINI hatch arrived in 2024 — and it has an unusually large first-MOT record behind it: 27,226 tests. That record is outstanding. Its running costs are not the same conversation.
Figures are derived from the DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results dataset, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Every MOT records the test outcome plus each defect as a coded “reason for rejection” or advisory.
Percentages are share of tests, not share of failures — so “2.6% tyre tread” means 2.6 in every 100 tests failed for that item. A single test can record several defects, so the columns do not sum to 100%.
A UK car does not need its first MOT until it is three years old, so a 2021 registration reached its first test in 2024. Every figure on this page describes that registration year and no other.
The 2021 cohort is unusually large for a young car — 27,226 tests at an average of 20,705 miles — which makes it one of the best-evidenced years anywhere on this site.
On a car this young, outstanding recalls, remaining manufacturer warranty and a service record showing the correct oil tell you more than any pass rate can.
Top MOT failure items
These are the defects that actually caused a MINI Cooper (2021) to fail its MOT, ranked by how often they appear across all tests.
Most common MOT advisories
Advisories are the early-warning layer. They don’t fail the car, but they tell you what the next owner will be paying for — and they are the single most useful thing to read before you buy.
| Advisory item | Share of tests | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre worn close to legal limit | 12.8% | Run-flats cost more to replace than the £66 repair average suggests. |
| Brake disc lightly corroded | 6.4% | Common on low-mileage cars that sit unused. |
| Brake pads wearing thin | 5.9% | Matches the No.4 failure item. |
| Wiper blade deteriorated | 4.7% | Directly tied to the No.2 failure item. |
| Engine oil leak (not excessive) | 4.1% | The one to take seriously — see the known faults below. |
| Suspension bush deteriorated | 3.2% | Firm suspension is hard on bushes. |
| Ball joint dust cover deteriorated | 2.1% | Cheap now, a worn joint later. |
| Tyre wearing unevenly | 1.8% | Check geometry after a kerb strike. |
| Coolant level low | 1.2% | Worth investigating on this engine family. |
| Number plate lamp inoperative | 0.9% | A two-minute fix that still fails a car. |
Which system fails most
Grouping every recorded defect by vehicle system shows where the money goes on a three-year-old Cooper.
The 2021 registration year passes at 91.5% across 27,226 tests, at an average of just 20,705 miles. Across all F56 years the MINI Cooper passes at 87% over 322,304 tests, at a median 37,806 miles — the lowest of any car on this site — with an average repair bill after a failure of only £66. MINI as a brand passes at 81.4% from 1,349,871 tests.
Two things inflate the 2021 figure honestly: these cars cover very few miles, and the MOT does not test any of the things that actually cost money on a MINI. A 2021 car is also near the end of the F56 run, which makes it one of the most developed versions of a body that had been in production since 2014.
Model averages describe the model. Enter the registration to see this car’s real MOT history, every recorded advisory, its mileage timeline and any finance, theft or write-off markers.
The best MOT record here, and what it hides
This car passes the MOT better than anything else on the site. That is a real result and worth knowing — but it is also the clearest demonstration on this whole site of the gap between roadworthiness and running cost.
- Four of the five most common failure items are tyres or a wiper blade. Neither is a design flaw.
- The average repair bill after a failure is £66 — the cheapest on this site by a wide margin.
- No corrosion, structural or emissions items appear at this age, and brake wear barely registers.
- The 2021 cohort averaged just 20,705 miles at its first test. Many of these are second cars that are simply not worked hard.
- Oil leaks from the valve cover gasket and oil filter housing are the most common non-MOT spend on this engine family. The MOT only records a leak if it is severe.
- The three-cylinder B38 can rattle on cold start. A brief metallic noise is generally normal; one that persists warm, or has got worse, is not.
- Early 7-speed dual-clutch cars hesitate at low speed. Software updates resolve most of it — test from cold, in traffic and reversing.
- Run-flat tyres cost noticeably more than conventional ones, and tyres are this car’s leading MOT failure.
Known faults the MOT won’t catch
The MOT tests roadworthiness, not mechanical health. These are the expensive items owners actually report — costs are indicative UK independent-specialist ranges, not quotes.
Pre-purchase checklist
Work through this in order. The first few cost nothing and rule out most bad cars.
- Start it from stone cold and listen for the first ten seconds. That is the only reliable way to judge the timing chain.
- Look behind and underneath the engine for oil film around the valve cover and filter housing.
- Check whether it has run-flat tyres and what condition all four are in — this is the car’s main MOT failure item and its most expensive consumable.
- If it is a dual clutch, drive it in traffic and in reverse, from cold, before deciding.
- Check the expansion tank level and look for residue around coolant joints.
- Confirm the 2022 seatbelt retractor recall if the build date falls between 12 January and 2 March 2022.
- Read the MOT advisory history, not just the pass results. On a car that passes this easily, the advisories are where the real story is.
- Verify finance and write-off status — MINIs hold value, which makes outstanding finance more likely, not less.
FAQs
Is the MINI Cooper reliable?
On MOT data it is the strongest car on this site: 87% across 322,304 tests, rising to 91.5% for 2021 registrations, with an average repair bill after failure of just £66. But the MOT does not test the things that cost money on a MINI — oil filter housings, valve cover gaskets, run-flat tyres and main-dealer servicing.
What fails a MINI Cooper MOT most often?
Tyres, overwhelmingly. Seriously damaged tyres, insufficient tread and visible cords occupy three of the top five places, with a wiper blade in second. Together, tyres and road wheels account for the largest share of all recorded defects.
Does the 2021 MINI have timing chain problems?
Not in the way the older R56 Prince engines did. The B38 and B48 make a characteristic brief metallic rattle on cold start that is generally normal. A rattle that persists once the engine is warm, or that has worsened over time, should be investigated.
Is a 2021 MINI the old shape or the new one?
The old shape. A 2021 car is a late F56 — the hatch that launched in 2014 and ran until the all-new MINI arrived in 2024. By 2021 it was a thoroughly developed design, which is part of why its MOT record is so strong.
Why is the MINI's MOT pass rate so high?
Three reasons, all honest. These cars cover very few miles — the median at test is under 38,000. They are mechanically sound at this age. And the MOT simply does not look at the components that generate MINI repair bills.
A CarCheckReport covers MOT and advisory history, mileage anomalies, outstanding finance, insurance write-off records, stolen markers, import and scrapped status — using DVLA, DVSA and Experian data.