Used car guide

2013 MINI Cooper Clubman: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2013 MINI Cooper Clubmans, from 422 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 422 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

422MOT tests in 2025
78%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%)
6,100typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for brake lights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2013 MINI Cooper Clubmans than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Brake lights2.1× usual
    MINI Cooper Clubman
    7.6% All 2013 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 2.8% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

By area

The share of 2013 MINI Cooper Clubman MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    25% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    22% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    19% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    19% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    9% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a MINI Cooper Clubman?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2012145Tyres 33%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2013 MINI Cooper Clubmans registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score