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2016 MINI Cooper

Gas
Subcompact Cars
12 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
D
Safety Signal
68 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA41
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA32 mpg
202620262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 MINI Cooper is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 12 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Cooper Hardtop 2 door, is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 41 complaints, most often about the exterior lighting. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Cooper Hardtop 2 doorGasFWD1.5L 3-cyl turbo283832$2,400
Cooper Hardtop 4 doorGasFWD1.5L 3-cyl turbo283832$2,400
Cooper ConvertibleGasFWD1.5L 3-cyl turbo273630$2,600
Cooper ConvertibleGasFWD1.5L 3-cyl turbo273630$2,600
Cooper Hardtop 2 doorGasFWD1.5L 3-cyl turbo273630$2,600
Cooper Hardtop 4 doorGasFWD1.5L 3-cyl turbo273630$2,600
Cooper S ConvertibleGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo253328$2,750
Cooper S Hardtop 2 doorGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo253328$2,750
Cooper S Hardtop 4 doorGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo253328$2,750
Cooper S Hardtop 2 doorGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233327$2,850
Cooper S Hardtop 4 doorGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233327$2,850
Cooper S ConvertibleGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233226$3,000

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36843, 36719, 37245, 37246, 36790, 36791, 37247, 36558, 36560, 36559.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 MINI Cooper is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Exterior Lighting

16,883 vehicles
ProblemBMW 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."RiskIf the brake light does not illuminate when a turn signal is activated, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.FixMINI 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.
NHTSA campaign 17V222000reported Mar 31, 2017BMW of North America, LLC
▲high

Seat Belts

15,455 vehicles
ProblemBMW 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."RiskIn 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.FixBMW 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.
NHTSA campaign 16V747000reported Oct 17, 2016BMW of North America, LLC
▲high

Steering

2 vehicles
ProblemBMW 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.RiskA gearbox malfunction may cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.FixBMW 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.
NHTSA campaign 15V887000reported Dec 30, 2015BMW of North America, LLC
▲high

Air Bags

6,073 vehicles
ProblemBMW 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."RiskIn the event of a vehicle crash, an air bag that does not deploy properly increases the risk of injury to the front seat passenger.FixMINI 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.
NHTSA campaign 15V628000reported Oct 7, 2015BMW of North America, LLC

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
41complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 6 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 7 · 2017: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Exterior Lighting12
Engine10
Electrical System9
Power Train6
Unspecified3
Service Brakes2

What owners describe

“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). NHTSA worked with MINI/BMW several years ago, and MINI extended a limited warranty for this sensor to 15 years/150,000 miles, but o…”Nov 19, 2025 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“Had recurring engine warning light which will only reset for one ignition cycle. Took to dealer to read code and result was "LIN bus communication fault for environmental air catalyst sensor". This is the same problem drivers of the Mini Cooper S model have reported and received an extended warranty from Mini of North …”Aug 20, 2024 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“Rear passenger tail light casing/bucket had burnt connections. Replaced casing/bucket and bulb. Worked for short time, tail light failed a second time. Casing/bucket & bulb replaced, again worked for short time and then went out. Took vehicle to another mechanic after passenger side headlight failed. New mechanic check…”Jul 31, 2024 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
3 HB FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★☆11%
3 HB FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★☆11%
3 HB FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★☆11%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Cooper model years

A

2026 MINI Cooper

1 recalls · 3 complaints

A

2026 MINI Cooper

1 recalls · 3 complaints

D

2025 MINI Cooper

4 recalls · 5 complaints

C

2024 MINI Cooper

2 recalls · 1 complaints

A

2023 MINI Cooper

0 recalls · 7 complaints

A

2022 MINI Cooper

0 recalls · 7 complaints

B

2021 MINI Cooper

2 recalls · 7 complaints

B

2020 MINI Cooper

2 recalls · 7 complaints

B

2019 MINI Cooper

2 recalls · 12 complaints

A

2018 MINI Cooper

0 recalls · 8 complaints

C

2017 MINI Cooper

3 recalls · 28 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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