What year MINI Mini Cooper is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 2004 MINI Mini Cooper has the highest pass rate at 78.1%, out of 715 vehicles tested.

What are the most common MINI Mini Cooper MOT failures?

The most common MINI Mini Cooper MOT failures vary by year. Check the individual year pages for detailed defect breakdowns — links in the table above.

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MINI Mini Cooper — Reliability by Year

3,652 vehicles · MOT data 2001–2006 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the MINI Mini Cooper was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

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Best pass rate year

2004

78.1% pass rate · 715 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

2002

75.7% pass rate · 848 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
2006	77.2%	70,502 mi	390
2005	77.4%	79,545 mi	550
2004	78.1%	69,446 mi	715
2003	76.8%	65,235 mi	750
2002	75.7%	64,606 mi	848
2001	75.8%	65,474 mi	399

Which year MINI Mini Cooper is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests.

Tests range from an average of 64,606 miles (newest year) to 79,545 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →

Trying to decide which year to buy?

We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a MINI Mini Cooper.

See the buying guide →

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Check any UK registration — free MOT history and risk insights.