Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 MINI Cooper S, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine4
- Exterior lighting2
- Power train1
- Seat belts1
- Electrical system1
- Steering1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Registered new in Europe in 2016
19,851 new MINI Cooper S cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2016; the largest markets were the United Kingdom (8,119), Germany (6,228), France (2,496).
- Average mass
- 1,321 kg
- Average power
- 140 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol 100%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 9,246 of these cars first registered in 2016 took their annual MOT test. 85% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2016 the figure was 79%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 7.3% | 6.2% |
| Visibility | 3.4% | 3.5% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 2.7% | 6.1% |
| Brakes | 2.1% | 4.3% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.1% | 1.7% |
| Suspension | 0.5% | 4.9% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
34 of these cars first registered in 2016 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 113,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
42 2016 cars are on the New Zealand register; 60% arrived as used imports, 38% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 6 variants: combined 8.2–9.0 L/100 km (about 26–29 mpg US), CO₂ 193–212 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper S 3 Door · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 9.2 | 7.0 | 8.2 |
| Cooper S 5 Door · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 9.2 | 7.0 | 8.2 |
| Cooper S Paceman ALL4 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 9.4 | 7.6 | 8.6 |
| Cooper S 3 Door · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 10.0 | 7.0 | 8.7 |
| Cooper S 5 Door · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 10.0 | 7.0 | 8.7 |
| Cooper S Paceman ALL4 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 10.1 | 7.7 | 9.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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."
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."
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."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What MINI told its dealers about the 2016 MINI Cooper S: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10244507 | MINI electrical systems have continued to develop over the past few years. As a result, the demand on the batteries has increased. Breakdowns due to an empty battery or problems in the vehicles electrical system can have various causes, most of which are not due to the battery itself. For this reason, a battery replacement will permanently eliminate the problem only in the rarest of cases. The energy diagnosis test module helps to localize these causes. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle discharged battery complaints. Without performing the energy |
| 10242535 | ?The panoramic roof sunblind does not close, or jams while closing. |
| 10242534 | ?BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop: REPLACE CHARGE AIR LINE. |
| 10234353 | The 3G network in the US has been shut down. This means that only the 4G network will be available. In the 4G network, voice calls will be transferred via Voice over LTE (VoLTE) function. For this purpose, the SIM card must perform an IMS registration in the mobile communication network. Due to a production error, the telematics control units were delivered without an IMS configuration. The Connected Drive voice services (Concierge Call, MINI Assistance and emergency call voice) can no longer be used regionally in the US in vehicle with telematics control units ATM-1 and TCB-4G. Voice cont |
| 10234352 | The buttons on the gear selector switch (GWS) do not work, or the function indicator lighting has failed. |
| 10234351 | Oscillations in the electric drive can occur. As a result, the 12 V positive battery cable may rub against the battery box cover. |
| 10233170 | Ambient lighting changes color after the vehicle goes to sleep. |
| 10228447 | During the service life of the vehicle, the high-voltage battery may unexpectedly not provide power to the vehicle. |
| 10228446 | It is possible that the guide stem (aka rotational axis) on the wind deflector can break, upon removal and or during installation. |
| 10228445 | During a vehicle inspection and/or while addressing a customer's concern, the engine stabilizer bar/link appears to be worn. |
| 10216790 | Comfort Access Restricted Check Control Message is Displayed |
| 10216789 | HISSING NOISE FROM SPEAKERS WHEN RADIO VOLUME IS TURNED DOWN. SOFTWARE IN HK HIFI AMPLIFIER. |
| 10216788 | SPORADIC FAILURE OF DIFFERENT AUDIO CHANNELS. INTERMITTENTLY, DIFFERENT SPEAKERS MAY BE INOOPERATIVE DURING AN ENTIRE DRIVE CYCLE UNTIL THE VEHICLE ENTERS SLEEP MODE AND THE VEHICLE IS RESTARTED. |
| 10216786 | NBT and Entry Head Unit Software Update for Improved Satellite Radio Reception |
| 10216785 | False Alarms of the Anti-Theft Alarm Sysstem - NBT and Entry Head Unit Software Update for improved satelite radio reception. |
| 10216784 | XM Satellite Radio Recekption - Audio, Navigation, Monitors, Alarms, SRS |
| 10216783 | Air Conditioning Regrigerant R1234yf Introduction |
| 10216781 | Designates changes to this revision - Foul Odor when switching oin A/C |
| 10216780 | Water Ingress In Footwell Area From A?C Condensate Drain |
| 10216779 | SERVICE ACTION: CBS INCORRECT AFTER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACEMENT - The Clock in the Instrument Cluster Loses time. |
| 10216778 | SERVICE ACTION: CBS INCORRECT AFTER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACEMENT |
| 10216772 | Cracking noise coming from the area of the front axle when driving over rough road surfaces, railroad crossings and speed bumps |
| 10216767 | Engine will not start (no crank). The engine will not crank or the engine loses power while driving, followed by a no crank situation. |
| 10216709 | MINI crankshaft guide bearing service action (update 2) |
| 10216708 | Mini parts logistics TEC 26 turbo charger return |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)