2016 MINI Cooper
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 15 of 50 complaints (30%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 74 in 2015 to 50 in 2016.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2016 Subcompact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,350–2,750 | 2,400–2,850 | 2,400–3,000 | 2,400–3,000 | 2,400–3,000 | |
| Combined MPG | 28–33 | 27–32 | 26–32 | 26–32 | 26–32 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 24–29 / 34–39 | 24–29 / 33–38 | 23–28 / 32–38 | 23–28 / 32–38 | 23–28 / 32–38 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 271–320 | 272–328 | 277–336 | 281–337 | 280–338 | |
| Complaints filed | 47 | 74 | 50 | 33 | 8 | |
| Recalls issued | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2016 MINI Cooper have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2016 MINI Cooper?
Engine: 15 of 50 NHTSA complaints (30%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 MINI Cooper get?
EPA rates it 26–32 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 MINI Cooper?
EPA estimates $2,400–$3,000 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (12)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 25 mpg | 33 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,750 | 316 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 23 mpg (low) | 33 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 331 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 25 mpg | 33 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,750 | 316 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 23 mpg (low) | 33 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 331 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Manual 6-spd | 3 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 28 mpg (high) | 38 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | $2,400 (low) | 277 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S6) | 3 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 27 mpg | 36 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,600 | 292 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S6) | 3 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 27 mpg | 36 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,600 | 292 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Manual 6-spd | 3 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 28 mpg (high) | 38 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | $2,400 (low) | 281 g/mi |
| Configuration 9 | Automatic (S6) | 3 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 27 mpg | 36 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,600 | 294 g/mi |
| Configuration 10 | Manual 6-spd | 3 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 27 mpg | 36 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,600 | 291 g/mi |
| Configuration 12 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 23 mpg (low) | 32 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | $3,000 (high) | 336 g/mi (high) |
Show 1 more configuration
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 11 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 25 mpg | 33 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,750 | 315 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS · Campaign 17V222000 · Apr 3, 2017
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."
Consequence: If the brake light does not illuminate when a turn signal is activated, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR · Campaign 16V747000 · Oct 17, 2016
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."
Consequence: 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.
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.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) · Campaign 15V887000 · Dec 30, 2015
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.
Consequence: A gearbox malfunction may cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.
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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 15V628000 · Oct 7, 2015
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."
Consequence: 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.
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.