2016 MINI Cooper S Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 MINI Cooper S.

20152017
Complaints
10
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2016 MINI Cooper S Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#14 complaints

Engine Problems

Fires:1
#22 complaints

Headlight/Taillight Failures

#31 complaints

Electrical Faults

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 MINI Cooper S.

Engine Problems
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 MINI Cooper S. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2016 MINI Cooper S

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~38,411 vehicles.

17V222000Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
~16,883 affected

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."

16V747000Seat Belts:front:retractor
~15,455 affected

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."

15V628000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~6,073 affected

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."

Other MINI Cooper S Years

2016 MINI Cooper S — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2016 MINI Cooper S reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2016 MINI Cooper S has 10 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 4 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2016 MINI Cooper S?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (4 complaints); Headlight/Taillight Failures (2 complaints); Electrical Faults (1 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 2016 MINI Cooper S?
NHTSA complaints for the 2016 MINI Cooper S include 1 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2016 MINI Cooper S have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 38,411 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2016 MINI Cooper S?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full MINI Cooper S reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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