Owners have filed 15 complaints
about the 2016 Mini Cooper Convertible with NHTSA between 2016 and 2025.
The largest single group is the lights.
Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 5 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 18
Against the median year of the Mini Cooper Convertible. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 34
6.7% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
100% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2016 compares with every other Mini Cooper Convertible
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2016 Mini Cooper Convertible
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Lights
426.7%
Other & Unspecified
320.0%
Median failure at 3,425 miles
Brakes
213.3%
Median failure at 4,909 miles
Equipment & Accessories
16.7%
Seat Belts
16.7%
Body & Structure
16.7%
Electrical System
16.7%
Median failure at 518 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
16.7%
Median failure at 12,800 miles
Engine & Cooling
16.7%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
350.0%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
233.3%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
116.7%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 2016peak 3Nov 2025
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 850 milesForest Park, IL2 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TWICE SINCE BUYING MY CAR IN MAY IF 2016 I HAVE BADLY BURNED MY LEG ON THE TAILPIPE WHILE GETTING BAGS OUT OF THE TRUNK. I WAS NOT EVEN REACHING INTO THE TRUNK PARTICULARLY DEEPLY. THE TAILPIPE PROTRUDES BEYOND THE BUMPER AND IT IS VERY EASY TO INADVERTENTLY BUMP IT WITH ONE'S LEG IF WEARING SHORTS. THIS IS DANGEROUS TO ADULTS, BUT ALSO ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN HELPING THEIR PARENTS GET THINGS OUT OF THE CAR. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE BURNS IF YOU NEED THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10891929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Williamsburg, VA
ENGINE
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 only for Cooper "S" models. Mine is not an "S". See Recall "S1 M01 05 20" The S has a BMW "B46M PZEV/SULEV " engine, which is covered by the extended warranty. My car - not the "S" model - has the BMW "B36M" engine. This is not covered by the extended warranty noted above. I have gone online and saw lots of complaints, as this appears to be a very common problem. A MINI dealer in Richmond, VA told me the same thing: the sensor fails, and you have to replace the entire radiator because the sensor is attached to it. I was quoted more than $2,000 to fix this problem. It seems to me that this defect is as common in the non "S" MINI Cooper's as it is in the "S" versions, and that MINI should extend the same warranty to vehicles with the B36M engines. Can you help?
NHTSA complaint #11700391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orange, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REAR BRAKE LIGHTS..IT COMES WITH 3 SMALL BRAKE LIGHTS ...TWO ON BUMPER & ONE ON TOP SCOOP, ALL RELATIVELY SMALL. THE MAIN TWO ARE MUCH BIGGER BUT ARE ONLY USED FOR DRIVING LIGHTS & TURN SIGNAL. 'IT MAKES NO SENSE '. THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED, RIGHT ?
NHTSA complaint #11090194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,300 milesMinneapolis, MN
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE PEDAL AT SAME LEVEL AS GAS PEDAL AT TIMES ( THEY ARE CLOSE TOGETHER) MY SHOE ON THE BRAKE ALSO HITS THE GAS TO EXCELLERATE PRESSING JARRED IN A PANIC WILL STOP THE CAR AND I WILL PUT IT IN NEUTRAL CITY STREET OR HI-WAY IN MOTION
NHTSA complaint #11046196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,800 milesAtlanta, GA
POWER TRAIN
DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHT FLASHES FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN GOES AWAY. DRIVING ON I-85 S JUNE 5, 2017 WARNING APPEARED FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN DISAPPEARED.
NHTSA complaint #10993700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, IL
SEAT BELTS
CONSTANT REPLACING OF THE SEAT BELTS. CURRENTLY BACK SEAT BELT NOT WORKING AGAIN SERIOUS SAFTEY HAZARD . NO LONGER RECEIVING A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. CANNOT RIDE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PASSENGERS IN THE REAR. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK MULTIPLE TIMES
NHTSA complaint #10956584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sacramento, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BASE MODEL BLUE TOOTH TELEPHONE INTERFACE WITHOUT ON-BOARD VOICE CONTROL DISABLES PHONE HANDS FREE FUNCTION (E.G "SIRI" ON IPHONE) INVITING DISTRACTION TO USE PHONE FUNCTIONS. COMMON ALSO ON SIMILARLY EQUIPPED BMW MODELS. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE WITH EARLIER YEAR MODELS WITH SIMILAR EQUIPMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10950375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,000 milesJurupa Valley, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WE PURCHASED THIS ALL-NEW MODEL IN MARCH 2016 AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ASCERTAIN A CRASHWORTHINESS RATING THROUGH YOUR ADMINISTRATION OR THE IIHS. I ONCE ASSUMED THAT THESE TESTS WERE CONDUCTED PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC SALE OF AUTOMOBILES. HOW LONG MUST A CONSUMER WAIT FOR A TEST TO BE CONDUCTED? THE INSURANCE COMPANIES SEEM TO DEPEND HEAVILY ON THESE EVALUATIONS WHEN DETERMINING THEIR RATES.
NHTSA complaint #10918101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockville, MD
STRUCTURE
AFTER MY CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT I WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE MINI VIN NUMBER INDICATES THAT MY MINI IS A 2 DOOR MODEL IN MOST DATA RESOURCES FOR EVALUATION PURPOSES. BUT I HAVE THE MINI 4 DOOR HARDTOP MODEL! HOW COULD THAT NOT BE INDICATED WITH A 4D INSTEAD OF THE 2D IN THIS MODELS VIN #?
NHTSA complaint #10916810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockville, MD
EQUIPMENT
AFTER MY CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT I WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE MINI VIN NUMBER INDICATES THAT MY MINI IS A 2 DOOR MODEL IN MOST DATA RESOURCES FOR EVALUATION PURPOSES. BUT I HAVE THE MINI 4 DOOR HARDTOP MODEL! HOW COULD THAT NOT BE INDICATED WITH A 4D INSTEAD OF THE 2D IN THIS MODELS VIN #?
NHTSA complaint #10916810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 850 milesForest Park, IL2 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TWICE SINCE BUYING MY CAR IN MAY IF 2016 I HAVE BADLY BURNED MY LEG ON THE TAILPIPE WHILE GETTING BAGS OUT OF THE TRUNK. I WAS NOT EVEN REACHING INTO THE TRUNK PARTICULARLY DEEPLY. THE TAILPIPE PROTRUDES BEYOND THE BUMPER AND IT IS VERY EASY TO INADVERTENTLY BUMP IT WITH ONE'S LEG IF WEARING SHORTS. THIS IS DANGEROUS TO ADULTS, BUT ALSO ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN HELPING THEIR PARENTS GET THINGS OUT OF THE CAR. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE BURNS IF YOU NEED THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10891929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kealakekua, HI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PLEASE CHECK THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT PHOTOS (HALFWAY DOWN, THIS PAGE: HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/R55-CLUBMAN-TALK-2008/293675-2016-CLUBMAN-13.HTML). I WAS FOLLOWING ONE OF THESE CARS THE OTHER DAY AND IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC THE LOWER BRAKE LIGHTS ARE SIMPLY NOT VISIBLE! THE LARGE (TURN SIGNAL) LIGHTS JUST BELOW THE REAR WINDOW "LOOK" THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE BRAKE LIGHTS BUT, OBVIOUSLY, DON'T COME ON WITH BRAKING. NO QUESTION, THIS WILL RESULT IN COLLISIONS, SOME SERIOUS. NHTSA NEEDS TO BE PROACTIVE AND FORCE A CORRECTIVE REPAIR; THIS IS TRULY A PUBLIC HEALTH.SAFETY ISSUE!!!
NHTSA complaint #10882328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 518 milesCorning, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE 2016+ MINI COOPER CLUBMAN MODELS. THE DESIGN OF THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS CAN NOT BE SEEN WHILE FOLLOWING THE VEHICLE AT A CARS LENGTH OF DISTANCE. THE LARGEST TAIL LIGHTS ON THE REAR HATCH OF THE VEHICLE ARE NOT THE ACTUAL BRAKE LIGHTS WHERE YOU ASSUME YOU WOULD SEE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. INSTEAD THEY ARE ON THE BUMPER BELOW THE REAR DOORS. WHEN IN TRAFFIC OR FOLLOWING LESS THAN 2 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND THE CEHICLE THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN TELL THE VEHICLE IS EVEN STOPPING IS THE SMALL 3RD BRAKE LIGHT. PRIOR TO ANYONE BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED IN A REAR COLLISION I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE SUGGESTION THAT BMW AND MINI ILLUMINATE THE LARGE TAIL LIGHTS IF THE REAR BARN DOORS ARE CLOSED AND ILLUMINATE THE LOWER LIGHTS ONLY WHEN THE BARN DOORS ARE OPEN DURING DRIVING. I'VE MADE THIS FORMAL CLAIM ON RECORD IN CASE ANYTHING HAPPENS TO MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE IN THE FUTURE. I'VE INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS FOR REFERENCE: 1. FOLLOWING AT 2 CAR LENGTHS WITH BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED 2. FOLLOWING AT 1 CAR LENGTHS WITH BRAKES ILLUMINATED 3. SIDE VIEW OF DISTANCE WHEN BRAKE LIGHTS WERE COMPLETELY OBSCURED DUE TO LOCATION.
NHTSA complaint #10872609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 518 milesCorning, NY
SERVICE BRAKES
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE 2016+ MINI COOPER CLUBMAN MODELS. THE DESIGN OF THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS CAN NOT BE SEEN WHILE FOLLOWING THE VEHICLE AT A CARS LENGTH OF DISTANCE. THE LARGEST TAIL LIGHTS ON THE REAR HATCH OF THE VEHICLE ARE NOT THE ACTUAL BRAKE LIGHTS WHERE YOU ASSUME YOU WOULD SEE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. INSTEAD THEY ARE ON THE BUMPER BELOW THE REAR DOORS. WHEN IN TRAFFIC OR FOLLOWING LESS THAN 2 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND THE CEHICLE THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN TELL THE VEHICLE IS EVEN STOPPING IS THE SMALL 3RD BRAKE LIGHT. PRIOR TO ANYONE BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED IN A REAR COLLISION I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE SUGGESTION THAT BMW AND MINI ILLUMINATE THE LARGE TAIL LIGHTS IF THE REAR BARN DOORS ARE CLOSED AND ILLUMINATE THE LOWER LIGHTS ONLY WHEN THE BARN DOORS ARE OPEN DURING DRIVING. I'VE MADE THIS FORMAL CLAIM ON RECORD IN CASE ANYTHING HAPPENS TO MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE IN THE FUTURE. I'VE INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS FOR REFERENCE: 1. FOLLOWING AT 2 CAR LENGTHS WITH BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED 2. FOLLOWING AT 1 CAR LENGTHS WITH BRAKES ILLUMINATED 3. SIDE VIEW OF DISTANCE WHEN BRAKE LIGHTS WERE COMPLETELY OBSCURED DUE TO LOCATION.
NHTSA complaint #10872609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIS CAR HAS TERRIBLY PLACED TAILLIGHTS. THE LIGHTS ARE NOT PLACED IN A VISIBLE LINE OF SIGHT. THE MINI CLUBMAN I SAW HAD VERY SMALL LIGHTS BELOW THE LARGE LIGHTS ON THE REAR DOORS. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE LARGE LIGHTS THAT APPEAR TO BE TAILLIGHTS SHOULD BE MADE FUNCTIONAL. THE TAILLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE WHAT APPEAR TO BE REAR FOG LIGHTS AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE CAR. THIS IS AN AWFUL SAFETY ISSUE AS YOU CANNOT SEE THE LIGHTS IN TRAFFIC. I'M SURPRISED THERE HAVEN'T BEEN SEVERAL ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS.
NHTSA complaint #10824831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SPOTTED NEW CLUBMAN IN FRONT OF ME ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE CAME TO STOP ABRUPTLY WITHOUT APPARENT WARNING. THANKFULLY I WAS PAYING ATTENTION. APPARENTLY TAILLIGHTS ARE NOT THE LARGE LIGHTS ON THE TRUNK, BUT THESE SMALL LIGHTS PLACED DIRECTLY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR END, ALMOST INVISIBLE IN STOP/GO TRAFFIC. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION TAILLIGHTS HAD TO BE PLACED HIGHER UP AND WOULD HAVE BEEN THE LARGE LIGHTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE REAR SECTION OF THE CAR, BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE WITH THIS CAR. I CAN SEE THIS MODEL OF CAR GETTING REAR ENDED QUITE FREQUENTLY WHEN PEOPLE UNEXPECTEDLY MISS THE TERRIBLY PLACED LIGHTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. THE LARGE LIGHTS YOU EXPECT TO BE BRAKE LIGHTS ACTUALLY ARE USED AS TURN SIGNALS ACCORDING TO ONLINE RESEARCH. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GENIUS DEVELOPED THIS AWFUL IDEA, BUT IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WHICH PLAGUES OUR HIGHWAYS. I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD EVEN BE ALLOWED TO PASS FMVS.
NHTSA complaint #10824138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.