The picture
Cooper S Electric Level 3: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,730 MOT tests, the Cooper S Electric Level 3 returns 88.6% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. A tyre with the cords showing and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 15,131, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
A tyre seriously damaged
95 occurrences · 5.5% of tests
- 02
A tyre cords visible or damaged
37 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 03
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
31 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 04
A tyre seriously damaged
25 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 05
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
8 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 06
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
5 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 07
Wiper blade defective
5 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 08
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
4 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 09
A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber
4 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 10
A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative
4 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£120–£190
If every one of this Cooper S Electric Level 3's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Buying or keeping a Cooper S Electric Level 3?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Cooper S Electric Level 3 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.