Most common 2016 Mini Cooper S problems
Share of the 9 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mini Cooper S complaints by model year
Best Cooper S years: 2017, 2016, 2021. Years to avoid: 2005, 2007, 2004, 2006, 2003. Compare all years →
2016 Mini Cooper S recalls (3)
Exterior lighting › Brake lights
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.
Remedy: MINI will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the vehicle to correct the brake lighting, free of charge. The recall began May 22, 2017. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
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.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper two-door vehicles, 2015-2016 MINI John Cooper Works and MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper four-door vehicles and 2014-2015 BMW i3 vehicles.
Remedy: MINI and BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on November 25, 2015.
What 2016 Mini Cooper S owners say
Engine & cooling
Front passenger side motor mount failed pretty terribly, the rubber completely slipped off the engine side mount leaving a severe engine vibration. The mount is very under engineered. Ours failed at 27,0000 miles.
Tl* the contact owned 2016 Mini Cooper s. Contact stated that while his wife was driving at 40 MPH, without warning an smoke appeared on the front passenger side under the hood. The contact stated his wife pulled to the side of the road and exited the vehicle before the whole vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department extinguished the flames and a fire department report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage lot and deemed a totaled lost. The manufacturer was contacted and sent a field inspector whom could not determine the cause of the failure. The dealer motor city Mini (29929 telegraph rd. Southfield, mi 48034) was contacted and informed the contact that fire was not covered under the warranty. The dealer did not inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximant 41,000.
2016 Mini Cooper S engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 25 / 33 / 28 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 25 / 31 / 28 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | FWD | 26 / 32 / 28 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 33 / 27 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | AWD | 25 / 30 / 27 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 33 / 27 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Mini Cooper S a good car?
Based on 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Cooper S rates better than average: 83% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Cooper S at the same age. It is one of the best Cooper S years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Mini Cooper S?
The engine & cooling — 4 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the lights (2) and seat belts (1).
How many recalls does the 2016 Mini Cooper S have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2016 Mini Cooper S, the most recent from March 31, 2017 (brake lights). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mini Cooper S?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2016 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005, 2007, 2004, 2006 and 2003. See the full Mini Cooper S years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Mini Cooper S problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 43,000 miles; 67% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.