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2017 MINI Cooper SProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 6 owner complaints about the 2017 MINI Cooper S, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-914 the manufacturer reports only 87% of affected cars repaired.

2017 MINI Cooper S
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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls3Lowest repair rate 87%Owner complaints62 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage58kEngine, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 23, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2017 MINI Cooper S has problems

6 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine20
Service brakes20
Air bags11
Vehicle speed control10
Forward collision avoidance10
Electrical system10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

3 recalls

2017 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.

96%repaired · 2018 Q3

Exterior lighting: brake lights

Recall 17V-222 · Mar 31, 2017 · 16,883 vehicles · 16,266 repaired

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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

87%repaired · 2018 Q2

Air bags

Recall 16V-914 · Dec 20, 2016 · 3,506 vehicles · 3,067 repaired

Risk. If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

88%repaired · 2020 Q4

Front: retractor

Recall 16V-747 · Oct 17, 2016 · 15,455 vehicles · 13,544 repaired

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,…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

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

2017 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.

The contact owns a 2017 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine was vibrating abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the passenger’s side engine mount needed to be replaced. The vehicle…
Complaint 11723036 · Mar 9, 2026 · 101,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FREEPORT MINI COOPER (280 SUNRISE HWY, FREEPORT, NY 11520, [PHONE]) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE…
Complaint 11209703 · May 24, 2019 · 15,000 miles

Own a 2017 Cooper S?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.