NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 18 owner complaints for the 2017 MINI Cooper. Most complaints involve exterior lighting (5) and power train (4). The EPA rates it 25–32 mpg combined.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2016-2017 MINI Cooper Clubman, Cooper S Clubman and JCW Clubman vehicles. When the affected vehicles are braking and the turn signals are on, the inner, bumper-mounted, brake light will go out. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, MINI Hardtop 4 Door Cooper, Mini Hardtop 4 Door Cooper S, MINI Cooper Clubman, and Cooper S Clubman, 2017 Rolls-Royce Ghost, and 2016 528i vehicles. The vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism of the seat belt Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) for the driver's seat may not lock as designed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Cooper model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 269 |
| 2003 | 537 |
| 2004 | 529 |
| 2005 | 843 |
| 2006 | 413 |
| 2007 | 383 |
| 2008 | 284 |
| 2009 | 152 |
| 2010 | 102 |
| 2011 | 110 |
| 2012 | 74 |
| 2013 | 47 |
| 2014 | 34 |
| 2015 | 56 |
| 2016 | 39 |
| 2017 | 18 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 5 |
“The contact owns a 2017 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while that vehicle was parked, the vehicle was turned on that there was a message on the instrument panel stating that there was a taillight malfunction. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the driver’s side rear taillight had not illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver’s side taillight housing and connector needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired, and the VIN was not included in a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.”
“The contact owns a 2017 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle rolled backwards. The contact applied the parking brake. There was an abnormal scraping noise detected while starting the vehicle. The roll back warning light was illuminated. There was a message stating “Transmission, Not Secure” was displayed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 43,198.”
“Rear tail light malfunction due to defective ground, melting connectors to rear break lights and indicators. Lack of break lights and indicators is a risk to motorist safety as a whole.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Convertible Man 6-spd, 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 37 | 32 | $2,500 | 281 |
| Cooper Hardtop 2 door Man 6-spd, 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 38 | 32 | $2,500 | 282 |
| Cooper Hardtop 4 door Man 6-spd, 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 37 | 32 | $2,500 | 281 |
| Cooper Convertible Auto (S6), 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 36 | 30 | $2,650 | 294 |
| Cooper Hardtop 2 door Auto (S6), 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 36 | 30 | $2,650 | 294 |
| Cooper Hardtop 4 door Auto (S6), 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 36 | 30 | $2,650 | 294 |
| Cooper Countryman Auto (S6), 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 33 | 28 | $2,850 | 319 |
| Cooper Countryman Man 6-spd, 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 33 | 28 | $2,850 | 322 |
| Cooper Countryman All4 Man 6-spd, 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 22 | 32 | 26 | $3,050 | 345 |
| Cooper Countryman All4 Auto (S8), 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 23 | 30 | 25 | $3,200 | 347 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
3 safety recalls as of Oct 27, 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.
Owners filed 18 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are exterior lighting (5), power train (4), electrical system (3). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2017 MINI Cooper at 25–32 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (10 versions rated).