CSR

MINI · NHTSA safety record

2016 MINI Cooper

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 28 safety complaints about the 2016 MINI Cooper with the US government. Of those, 2 describe a crash, 4 people were injured and no death is recorded. 4 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 10 complaints, 36% of the total.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers March 2020 to June 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

28 complaints on file

28

Complaints

2

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

4

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 10 · 36%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8 · 29%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 8 · 29%
POWER TRAIN 6 · 21%
AIR BAGS 2 · 7%
EQUIPMENT 1 · 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 · 4%
SEAT BELTS 1 · 4%
SEATS 1 · 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 1 · 4%
STEERING 1 · 4%
STRUCTURE 1 · 4%
0 8 15

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 28.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2024 at 7.

8 6 4 2
20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2020 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2016 MINI Cooper. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

4 on file

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

17V222000 · March 31, 2017

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2016-2017 MINI Cooper Clubman, Cooper S Clubman and JCW Clubman vehicles. When the affected vehicles are braking and the turn signals are on, the inner, bumper-mounted, brake light will go out. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk
If the brake light does not illuminate when a turn signal is activated, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
MINI will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the vehicle to correct the brake lighting, free of charge. The recall began May 22, 2017. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 16,883 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

16V747000 · October 17, 2016

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, MINI Hardtop 4 Door Cooper, Mini Hardtop 4 Door Cooper S, MINI Cooper Clubman, and Cooper S Clubman, 2017 Rolls-Royce Ghost, and 2016 528i vehicles. The vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism of the seat belt Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) for the driver's seat may not lock as designed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
The risk
In the event of a crash where heavy braking is applied, the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) may activate when the occupant is more forward in the seat, possibly increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 15,455 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

15V887000 · December 30, 2015

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling one model year 2016 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door vehicle manufactured November 24, 2015, and one BMW X1 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) manufactured October, 19 2015. The steering gearbox may have been manufactured with incorrect parts.
The risk
A gearbox malfunction may cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
BMW will replace the steering gearbox, free of charge. Affected vehicles are located in dealer inventory and will be remedied before customer retail. The recall began on December 28, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 2 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

15V628000 · October 7, 2015

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper two-door vehicles, 2015-2016 MINI John Cooper Works and MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper four-door vehicles and 2014-2015 BMW i3 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the passenger frontal air bag may not deploy properly in a low speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk
In the event of a vehicle crash, an air bag that does not deploy properly increases the risk of injury to the front seat passenger.
The remedy
MINI and BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on November 25, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525 and BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 6,073 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 97,359 miles

WAS IN A SIGNIFICANT MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 2.18.20. DRIVING ON US-98WEST 2016 MINI COOPER 4DOOR WHEN LARGE CHEVY2500 PICKUP TRUCK STOPPED SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45-50MPH. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT. I SLAMMED ON BRAKES BUT MADE FULL CONTACT WITH BACK OF TRUCK, I WAS SLAMMED INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND STEERING COLUMN. SEATBELT FAILED- AIRBAG FAILED! MINI COOPER WAS DETERMINED A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY. I SUFFERED A CONCUSSION, FRACTURED STERNUM, TWO FRACTURED VERTEBRAE IN MY NECK - C7 AND T1.

NHTSA complaint 11315877. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 43,500 miles

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER SON WHO OWNED A 2016 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR SENDING THE VEHICLE 10-15 FEET HEAD-ON INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER SON SUSTAINED A DISLOCATED RIGHT ANKLE, THE RIGHT HEEL WAS FRACTURED IN 5 PLACES, THE L3 AND L5 VERTEBRAE WERE FRACTURED, HIS LEFT COLLAR BONE WAS FRACTURED REQUIRING EXTENSIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SURGERY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FROM THE SCENE TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE

NHTSA complaint 11375919, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EQUIPMENT

1 injured

*The condensation drain hose is not properly draining the condensate from the vehicle. The micro-filter is is absorbing condensate water from the evaporator housing. *After a while the water that sits, turns to mold. You dont know about it until it gets to that point. You breathe in mold, constantly until you figure out where it is coming from. *The problem has been confirmed and also confirmed that its a known problem to have with these cars *Yes the care has been inspected by the dealer. *There are no warnings at all

NHTSA complaint 11552298. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
2015 and 2016 Hard top Mini Coopers, Standard (F55) are prone to their environmental air catalyst sensor breaking, causing a check engine light and emissions issues. The remedy is replacing the entire radiator. This occurred on my vehicle at only 40,000 miles. MINI is aware of the issue, but only issued an extended warranty for "S" (or 4-cylinder) models, despite the 3-cylinder base model containing the same radiator sensors with the same defects. [XXX] This extended warranty should cover base models with the same parts. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint 11745527. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The malfunction indicator lamp light is on (MIL) with the following fault code stored in the DME: Fault code Control module Fault code text 1B8302 DME LIN bus, communication (EAC sensor): missing Problem verified. Don't know if car will quit on the highway. Mini recall for exact problem and extended warranty to solve the problem only on the "S" model with the exact same engine.

NHTSA complaint 11711458. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The rear brake lights and rear signal indicator lights keep going in and out arbitrarily. It's dangerous because it will work fine and then just randomly stop working and then work again. People can't tell if I'm stopping or turning when this randomly occurs. This is currently not a recall on my Mini, however, I saw that it is a recall on other Minis and it seems mine is having the same issue so it's possible they all have similar or the same faulty wiring/electrical for the brake lights and signal indicator lights.

NHTSA complaint 11678331. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Oil filter housing failure. MINI issued a recall for this part in 2014 when the third generation MINI Cooper S/JCW first launched. Unfortunately they did not fix the part and now as time goes on, the issue is occurring with high frequency on every BMW/MINI and Toyota Supra with the BMW B46/B48 2.0L turbocharged engine. The plastic oil filter housings crack causing oil and coolant to leak. In my case oil poured down the front of the hot engine which could have caused a fire. BMW/MINI dealers charge nearly $2500 to repair this failure. The ODI should investigate this concern as it has been reported dozens of times on each model with this engine including the BMW X1 28i/M35, BMW X2 28i/M35,

NHTSA complaint 11639876, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Drivetrain error occurred. I pulled codes and found P0015. I added oil, cleared code. The next day the drivetrain error popped back up. Pulled codes and found P0366. I took the vehicle to mechanic for diagnostics and to find the issue. They found faults: 130F11 and 120408. When replacing engine oil and filter, they found metal shavings in the oil; bearing material. They are recommending replacing the engine. Doing research, it appears this has been a common occurrence with these vehicles/engines. Is there a current recall on some of these engines, or a possibility for a discounted replacement due to the issues being widespread? The car has less than 74,000 miles, and the mechanic said it

NHTSA complaint 11636617, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
While driving straight on an Interstate highway at approximately 65 mph, the right front and left rear brakes momentarily locked up after the windshield wipers were turned on due to light rain starting to fall. This happened multiple times, only when the wipers were turned on. There were no warning lights illuminated in the instrument cluster or dash displays. This nearly caused a loss of vehicle control on several occasions and nearly caused an accident as well. The car has been routinely serviced to factory schedules including brake fluid time based changes. There appeared to be some occasional delay in the release of the brakes when starting from a stop. The brakes were serviced after

NHTSA complaint 11614123, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the MINI Cooper

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2019 12 2 —
2017 28 3 —
2015 56 6 —
2014 34 7 —
2013 47 1 —
2012 66 1 —
2011 83 1 —
2010 92 2 —

Other 2016 MINI models

Clubman 18 Cooper S 9

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every MINI on this site — 29 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst