repaired · 2018 Q3
Exterior lighting: brake lights
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.
2016 MINI Cooper SProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 10 owner complaints about the 2016 MINI Cooper S, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-747 the manufacturer reports only 88% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 22, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 MINI Cooper S has problems
10 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
4Engine1 crash/fire/injury
2Electrical system
2Exterior lighting
2Power train1 crash/fire/injury
1Seat belts
1Steering1 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 |
| Power train | 2 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2016 MINI Cooper S recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Front: retractor
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,…
repaired · 2017 Q1
Passenger side: inflator module
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.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with MINI.
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other Cooper S year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Cooper S median. How we score
'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'19'20'21'22'24'25
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
In owners' words
What Cooper S owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Front passenger side motor mount failed pretty terribly, the rubber completely slipped off the engine side mount leaving a severe engine vibration. The mount is very under engineered. Ours failed at 27,0000 miles.
There have been thousands upon thousands of failures of the oil cooler/oil filter housing on all BMW/MINI B46/B48 2.0T engines. This problem dates back to 2014 when BMW issued a stop sale order and recall on the 2014 MINI Cooper with both the 1.5L I3 (B38) and 2.0L I4 (B48) engines. Since 2014, the…
TL* 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. THE CONTACT STATED HIS WIFE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE WHOLE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED…
Own a 2016 Cooper S?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.