Every 2016 Mini Cooper recall
Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.
Exterior Lighting · NHTSA 17V222000
Mar 31, 2017Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
- Problem
- 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."
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Full recall details for 17V222000 →Seat Belts · NHTSA 16V747000
Oct 17, 2016Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
- Problem
- 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."
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Full recall details for 16V747000 →Steering · NHTSA 15V887000
Dec 30, 2015Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack and Pinion)
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- A gearbox malfunction may cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- 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.
Full recall details for 15V887000 →Air Bags · NHTSA 15V628000
Jul 10, 2015Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
- Problem
- 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."
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Full recall details for 15V628000 →
2016 Mini Cooper complaints and service bulletins
Owners filed 50 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Mini Cooper, reporting 3 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries. Mini has issued at least 338 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.
Most-reported components
- Engine15
- Exterior Lighting14
- Electrical System10
- Power Train8
- Seat Belts3
- Service Brakes3
Service bulletins by component
- Electrical System (216)
- Equipment (200)
- Engine and Engine Cooling (105)
- Engine (88)
- Equipment Adaptive/Mobility (70)
- Structure (65)
Read Mini Cooper owner complaints and bulletins, every year
What people reported
Owners have filed 50 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Mini Cooper. A few in their own words, shortened. Complaints are unverified and are not proof of a defect or of any recall.
Injury reported
“*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.”
2016 MINI COOPEROct 27, 2023
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11552298
Fire
“THE CONTACT OWNED 2016 MINI COOPER S. CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING AN SMOKE APPEARED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE HOOD.”
2016 MINI COOPER SApr 30, 2020
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11322865
Injury reported
“TWICE SINCE BUYING MY CAR IN MAY IF 2016 I HAVE BADLY BURNED MY LEG ON THE TAILPIPE WHILE GETTING BAGS OUT OF THE TRUNK. I WAS NOT EVEN REACHING INTO THE TRUNK PARTICULARLY DEEPLY. THE TAILPIPE PROTRUDES BEYOND THE BUMPER AND IT IS VERY EASY TO INADVERTENTLY BUMP IT WITH ONE'S LEG IF WEARING SHORTS.”
2016 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLEJul 31, 2016
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 10891929
“The Environmental Air Catalyst (EAC) Sensor on my 2016 MINI failed two years ago when I had only 25,000 miles on the car. (The car now has 30,200 miles on it; I do not drive it very much).”
2016 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLENov 19, 2025
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11700391
Injury reportedCrash
“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.”
2016 MINI COOPERNov 23, 2020
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11375919
Check your Cooper by VIN
Not every 2016 Mini Cooper is in every recall. Enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact vehicle, then confirm which are still open at NHTSA.gov or with any Mini dealer.
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