Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2018 Mini Cooper with NHTSA between 2018 and 2025.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 13 of 19 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 — 3
Against the median year of the Mini Cooper. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
70% 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%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2018 Mini Cooper
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Other & Unspecified
220.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 9,500 mi
Airbags
220.0%
2 crashes, 0 fires · median 3,250 mi
Electrical System
220.0%
Tires
110.0%
Body & Structure
110.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 3,500 mi
Brakes
110.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 9,500 mi
Engine & Cooling
110.0%
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.
Mar 2018peak 2Jul 2025
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 9,500 milesFort Lauderdale, FLCrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FEBRUARY 21, 2019 I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE BRAKES TEMPORARILY FAILED. WHEN I PUMPED THEM A SECOND TIME THEY CAME TO A STOP, HOWEVER BY THEN THE CAR AND I HAD GONE OVER A HEDGE AND SIDE SWIPED A TREE. BMW NORTH AMERICA COULD NOT FIND ANY WARNING ON MARCH 11, 2019 WHEN THEY REVIEWED THE SYSTEMS, NO WARNINGS AT ALL, NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS TURNING IN TO A FAMILIAR PARKING LOT AT A SLOW SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #11195306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,500 milesFort Lauderdale, FLCrash
SERVICE BRAKES
FEBRUARY 21, 2019 I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE BRAKES TEMPORARILY FAILED. WHEN I PUMPED THEM A SECOND TIME THEY CAME TO A STOP, HOWEVER BY THEN THE CAR AND I HAD GONE OVER A HEDGE AND SIDE SWIPED A TREE. BMW NORTH AMERICA COULD NOT FIND ANY WARNING ON MARCH 11, 2019 WHEN THEY REVIEWED THE SYSTEMS, NO WARNINGS AT ALL, NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS TURNING IN TO A FAMILIAR PARKING LOT AT A SLOW SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #11195306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,500 milesLaurel Springs, NJCrash3 injured
AIR BAGS
MY 2018 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN S WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER DRIVER WHO WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50-60MPH. WE WERE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 13 MPH AT TIME OF IMPACT AND THE FRONT, KNEE OR SIDE AIR BAG(S) DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE ACCIDENT AS A DASH CAM WAS IN PLACE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #11149854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,500 milesLaurel Springs, NJCrash3 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY 2018 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN S WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER DRIVER WHO WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50-60MPH. WE WERE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 13 MPH AT TIME OF IMPACT AND THE FRONT, KNEE OR SIDE AIR BAG(S) DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE ACCIDENT AS A DASH CAM WAS IN PLACE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #11149854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,000 milesNapa, CACrash
AIR BAGS
I WAS AT A STOP BECAUSE TRAFFIC WAS BACKED UP IN TOWN NEAR THE HIGHWAY ENTRANCE AND A CAR REAR ENDED ME, PUSHING ME INTO THE CAR AHEAD. THE REAR CAR WAS MOVING AT AT LEAST 20 MPH. WITH A REAR END AND HEAD ON COLLISION AT THAT SPEED, MY AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT.
NHTSA complaint #11078335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Jacksonville, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2018 Mini Convertible has 47,000 miles on it. Recently the convertible top stopped retracting and now doesn't fit snuggly when closed. I brought my car into the dealer and they said that a cable broke and gave me a repair quote of $4600-. I sent a msg to Mini USA and they called me and said they would cover the repair if it breakage wasn't due to something I did improperly. About a week later they called back and stated that they would not cover the repair because the warranty had expired. They definitely mislead me on the initial call. My car no longer operates as a convertible, and I have excessive wind noise in the car. I feel like a car with 47,000 miles on it should not be experiencing such expensive repairs. I shared my experience on social media and apparently many others are having similar experiences. I am considering trading my car in for a different model as Mini Cooper does not stand behind their products.
NHTSA complaint #11673014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Taylors Falls, MN
TIRES
Tire size 205/45 r17 pirelli ginturato We were driving from an appt and the low tire air light came on. We got to car x and found the side wall and tread belt on the inside of the tire had came off. Car x didn't have a replacement tire and they switched the bad tire to the back so we would have xontrol of the steering in a blow out they said to go across the street to Goodyear but be careful. Goodyear had to good get a tire because the car was considered unsafe and a road hazard to drive on the road or highway. We were over an hour from home. The other 3 tires are doing the same thing.we don't have the tire but we do have pictures. Our car could have cause a big accident if we hadn't thought quick enough and the mechanic hadn't found the problem I'm not sure if others have had this issue but the other 3 of our tires are doing the same thing. The car is inoperable until we can afford 3 more new tires. The vehicle was inspected by 3 mechanic... car x, Goodyear, and my husband.they appeared the same day. There was no symptoms except at the last minute the low tire air light coming on.
NHTSA complaint #11563195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Douglasville, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
UNKNOWN Driver side tail light socket. All lights stopped working. Took out the socket and the wiring harness connector burned up
NHTSA complaint #11501799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Troy, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Driving at low speed piercing loud noises came from speakers, buzzing and whining. Noise stayed on with ignition on or off and radio on or off. This occurred two more times on way home. Am waiting for dealer appointment. Have not driven vehicle since.
NHTSA complaint #11496400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Cloud, FL
ENGINE
Took car into mini dealer for clunking noise problem. Dealer indicated motor mounts were cracked and needed to be replaced. Another customer at dealer was also having motor mounts replaced. His car was also 4 yrs old with 32K miles on it. Mount replacement was not covered under warranty as the car was 4 yrs and 3 months since warranty was activated and coverage ended at 4 yrs.
NHTSA complaint #11440369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,500 milesFort Lauderdale, FLCrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FEBRUARY 21, 2019 I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE BRAKES TEMPORARILY FAILED. WHEN I PUMPED THEM A SECOND TIME THEY CAME TO A STOP, HOWEVER BY THEN THE CAR AND I HAD GONE OVER A HEDGE AND SIDE SWIPED A TREE. BMW NORTH AMERICA COULD NOT FIND ANY WARNING ON MARCH 11, 2019 WHEN THEY REVIEWED THE SYSTEMS, NO WARNINGS AT ALL, NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS TURNING IN TO A FAMILIAR PARKING LOT AT A SLOW SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #11195306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,500 milesFort Lauderdale, FLCrash
SERVICE BRAKES
FEBRUARY 21, 2019 I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE BRAKES TEMPORARILY FAILED. WHEN I PUMPED THEM A SECOND TIME THEY CAME TO A STOP, HOWEVER BY THEN THE CAR AND I HAD GONE OVER A HEDGE AND SIDE SWIPED A TREE. BMW NORTH AMERICA COULD NOT FIND ANY WARNING ON MARCH 11, 2019 WHEN THEY REVIEWED THE SYSTEMS, NO WARNINGS AT ALL, NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS TURNING IN TO A FAMILIAR PARKING LOT AT A SLOW SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #11195306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,500 milesLaurel Springs, NJCrash3 injured
AIR BAGS
MY 2018 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN S WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER DRIVER WHO WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50-60MPH. WE WERE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 13 MPH AT TIME OF IMPACT AND THE FRONT, KNEE OR SIDE AIR BAG(S) DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE ACCIDENT AS A DASH CAM WAS IN PLACE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #11149854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,500 milesLaurel Springs, NJCrash3 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY 2018 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN S WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER DRIVER WHO WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50-60MPH. WE WERE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 13 MPH AT TIME OF IMPACT AND THE FRONT, KNEE OR SIDE AIR BAG(S) DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE ACCIDENT AS A DASH CAM WAS IN PLACE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #11149854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,000 milesNapa, CACrash
AIR BAGS
I WAS AT A STOP BECAUSE TRAFFIC WAS BACKED UP IN TOWN NEAR THE HIGHWAY ENTRANCE AND A CAR REAR ENDED ME, PUSHING ME INTO THE CAR AHEAD. THE REAR CAR WAS MOVING AT AT LEAST 20 MPH. WITH A REAR END AND HEAD ON COLLISION AT THAT SPEED, MY AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT.
NHTSA complaint #11078335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.