Research · Minicompact Cars

2019 MINI Cooper SRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 4 owner complaints for the 2019 MINI Cooper S. Most complaints involve visibility (1) and steering (1). The EPA rates it 24–28 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
24–28mpg
EPA · 12 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
1campaigns
Latest Jul 2018
Owner complaints
4
Top: visibility
Fuel cost / yr
$2,750est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

1 NHTSA campaign · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Free remedy

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a vehicle stall. On September 12, 2018, BMW expanded the recall to a total of 5,309 vehicles including certain 2018-2019 BMW 540d xDrive, 230i M240i, M240i xDrive, X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 330i, 330i xDrive, 340i, 340i xDrive, 330i xDrive Gran Turismo, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 530e, 530e xDrive, 640i xDrive Gran Turismo, 330e, 2019 430i Gran Coupe, 430i xDrive Gran Coupe, 440i Gran Coupe, 440i xDrive Gran Coupe, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, 740i, 740i xDrive, MINI Cooper, Cooper S, JCW, MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), and MINI Clubman (Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, JCW All4) vehicles.

Engine and engine coolingReported Jul 12, 2018NHTSA 18V465000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

4 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 2019 – Aug 2025
  1. Visibility1
  2. Steering1
  3. Electrical system1
  4. Exterior lighting1
  5. Power train1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Cooper S model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2004529
200636
200816
200936
201059
201140
201226
201369
201446
201571
20169
20174
20194
20205
20221
20241
20254
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Visibility

1 report
“The contact owns a 2019 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that a rock had hit the driver's side of the windshield due to construction work on a local highway. The contact stated that the passenger's side of the windshield was also hit by a rock while driving. The contact stated that the driver's side of the windshield sustained a minor fracture; however, the passenger's side of the windshield was severely damaged. An unknown dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,485. The VIN was not available.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 7, 2025VisibilityODI 11679180

Steering

1 report
“Loss of power steering on startup or at stop light. A message pops up indicating that the Dynamic Stability Control is re-initializing and that steering may become difficult: Drive carefully. The warning message usually appears shortly after the failure. In fact, the steering gets so stiff, that my wife can barely turn corners. The problem comes and goes unexpectedly. This is my wife's car, and it has happened to her on several other occasions. Sometimes we can reset by restarting the car, but that isn't reliable. We put the car out of ECO mode into Sport mode, so that the engine does not stop at stop lights, but the engine sometimes stops anyway. When it happened at a stop light today, we tried several restarts, but the steering remained out. Steering is worse at low speeds. Today, we stopped at a light. My wife was driving. The engine stopped and restarted, and the error message appeared. She had difficulty steering into a parking lot where I swapped places with her. I drove her home. It was difficult for me to steer around corners after today's lock up, but I drove the car to a local BMW-Mini mechanic with whom I had discussed the problem, but it never…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 27, 2025SteeringODI 11663212

Electrical system

1 report
“The contact's daughter owns a 2019 Mini Cooper S Clubman. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, she depressed the brake pedal, but the rear driver's side brake light failed to illuminate. The contact stated that he was driving behind his daughter when he noticed the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the rear driver's side brake light bulb was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The mechanic referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was jumpstarted by AAA. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist unless NHTSA required that they do so. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 12, 2024Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11571447
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

12 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Minicompact Cars, Subcompact Cars, Midsize Cars
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (S6) · Automatic (S8) · Manual 6-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Cooper S Convertible
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
253328$2,750315
Cooper S Hardtop 2 door
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
253228$2,750316
Cooper S Hardtop 4 door
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
253228$2,750316
Cooper S Clubman
Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
233227$2,850332
Cooper S Countryman
Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
233227$2,850332
Cooper S Clubman All4
Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
233126$3,000345
Cooper S Convertible
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
233226$3,000338
Cooper S Countryman All4
Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
223126$3,000346
Cooper S Hardtop 2 door
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
233226$3,000338
Cooper S Clubman
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
223125$3,100350
Cooper S Clubman All4
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
213024$3,200366
Cooper S Countryman All4
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
213024$3,200367
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2019 MINI Cooper S as of Nov 9, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 9, 2026
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2019 Cooper S questions

How many recalls does the 2019 MINI Cooper S have?

1 safety recall as of Nov 9, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2019 MINI Cooper S problems?

Owners filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are visibility (1), steering (1), electrical system (1). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2019 MINI Cooper S get?

The EPA rates the 2019 MINI Cooper S at 24–28 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (12 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 9, 2026