Problems · NHTSA complaints
2017 MINI Cooper problems
Owners filed 18 complaints about the 2017 MINI Cooper with NHTSA between Jun 2016 and Apr 2023. The most-cited component is exterior lighting (5).
Complaints
18
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Exterior lighting5
- Power train4
- Electrical system3
- Structure2
- Engine2
- Air bags2
- Seat belts2
- Visibility/wiper2
- Suspension1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Steering1
- Seats1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
4
2
3
0
1
3
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Exterior lighting
5 reports1 crash1 related recall
“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.”
Power train
4 reports1 crash
“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.”
Electrical system
3 reports
“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.”
Structure
2 reports
“The driver door latching mechanism failed this past week. For days, I was unable to latch the door closed -- all attempts to close the door would result in the door simply bouncing off the body of the car. I spent hours unsuccessfully trying to get the latching mechanism to work again, e.g. by repeatedly attempting to close the door, holding the door closed and trying to lock all doors. To drive the car home from work and to the dealership for repairs, I was forced to hold the door closed with my left hand while driving and by tying the door closed with my seat belt (on the highway, no less). I eventually took the car to my local dealership and left it for diagnosis and repairs. I took a video of the door's fault, and left the car locked and with the driver's door tied closed with my seat belt. To my amazement, the dealership called a few days later and told me that they were unable to duplicate the fault; as far as I know, no repairs were therefore made. I shared the video of the door's fault with the dealership; they hypothesized that the latching mechanism may have intermittently failed because of the weather. I now feel anxious about driving the car. This…”
Engine
2 reports1 crash
“THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP WHEN THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED IT LUNGED FORWARD INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ANOTHER TIME IN DRIVEWAY VEH WAS BOUGHT TO A STOP IN OUR DRIVEWAY TO TURN AROUND. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND THE CAR LUNGED INTO A WALL AND THE TIRES CONTINUED TO SPIN UNTIL BRAKES WERE HEAVILY APPLIED”
Air bags
2 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS WIFE AND STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE OTHER VEHICLES AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK ACHES THAT NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGED YARD WAITING TO BE DIAGNOSED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.