FaultScore

Worst years for a Mini Cooper

Owners have filed 2,854 complaints about the Mini Cooper with NHTSA across model years 2001 to 2026. More of them are about the steering than anything else.

Avoid

2003 Mini Cooper

388 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly steering.

Cleanest on record

2019 Mini Cooper

17 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Mini Cooper year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2026 4 0 0 Electrical System
2025 1 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2024 1 0 0 Brakes
2023 9 1 1 Tires
2022 7 2 0 Other & Unspecified
2021 7 1 1 Electrical System
2020 B 11 3 0 Airbags
2019 A 17 0 0 70 Steering
2018 C 10 5 0 3,500 Electrical System
2017 C 42 7 0 5,200 Engine & Cooling
2016 B 43 3 0 Engine & Cooling
2015 C 76 10 0 14,500 Engine & Cooling
2014 C 45 1 2 8,500 Engine & Cooling
2013 B 72 1 0 37,000 Electrical System
2012 C 98 1 16 54,000 Electrical System
2011 C 130 1 5 60,000 Electrical System
2010 C 142 3 11 60,500 Engine & Cooling
2009 C 193 2 20 67,890 Airbags
2008 C 155 8 7 57,875 Engine & Cooling
2007 C 159 4 16 70,000 Airbags
2006 D 247 13 12 70,000 Airbags
2005 D 440 13 13 70,000 Steering
2004 D 330 5 17 71,421 Steering
2003 D 388 3 33 72,500 Steering
2002 D 220 7 9 60,000 Steering
2001 7 0 0 Transmission & Drivetrain

What breaks on a Mini Cooper

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Steering 835 29.3%

Worst in 2005

Airbags 444 15.6%

Worst in 2006

Engine & Cooling 357 12.5%

Worst in 2008

Electrical System 312 10.9%

Worst in 2011

Worst in 2003

Worst in 2002

Worst in 2005

Seats 65 2.3%

Worst in 2006

Lights 61 2.1%

Worst in 2010

Worst in 2015

Brakes 49 1.7%

Worst in 2015

Seat Belts 45 1.6%

Worst in 2009

Worst in 2005

Worst in 2005

Exactly what failed on a Mini Cooper

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Automatic Transmission 95 32.5%
Windshield 46 15.8%
Pump 28 9.6%
Body 25 8.6%
Manual Transmission 24 8.2%
Engine 19 6.5%
Hydraulic Power Assist System 15 5.1%
Front Passenger 14 4.8%
Occupant Classification 14 4.8%
Electric Power Assist System 12 4.1%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Mini Cooper, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Sep 2000 peak 55 Aug 2026

Mini Cooper problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Mini Cooper

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.