Verdict
2017 Mini Cooper: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2017 Mini Cooper — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
Fewer reported complaints than most hatchback.
Owners filed 22 NHTSA complaints — fewer complaints than 67% of 2017 hatchbacks. Air Bags leads the reports (14%). 3 safety recall campaigns on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2017 hatchbacks, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
22
Reports to NHTSA, 2017
Safety recalls
3
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Not rated
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
27
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
Fewer complaints than 67% of 2017 hatchbacks
The bar is this car's percentile among 2017 hatchbacks by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Air Bags issues lead owner complaints (14% of 22 reports), followed by electrical system (14%).
+ 4 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 22 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11252000, ODI 11234091, ODI 11061571.
Recalls(3)
Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.
Seat Belts · 16V747000Details +Close −
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."
Risk: In the event of a crash where heavy braking is applied, the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) may activate when the occupant is more forward in the seat, possibly increasing the risk of injury.
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 · 16V914000Details +Close −
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.
Risk: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Exterior Lighting · 17V222000Details +Close −
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."
Risk: If the brake light does not illuminate when a turn signal is activated, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
No NHTSA crash test is on record for this year. Some vehicles and model years were not tested or do not have a published NCAP result.
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Hardtop 4 door | 1.5L 3-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 28 | 37 | 32 |
| Cooper Hardtop 2 door | 1.5L 3-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 28 | 38 | 32 |
| Cooper Convertible | 1.5L 3-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 28 | 37 | 32 |
| Cooper Hardtop 4 door | 1.5L 3-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 27 | 36 | 30 |
| Cooper Hardtop 2 door | 1.5L 3-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 27 | 36 | 30 |
| Cooper Convertible | 1.5L 3-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 27 | 36 | 30 |
| Cooper S Hardtop 4 door | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 25 | 32 | 28 |
| Cooper S Hardtop 2 door | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 25 | 32 | 28 |
| Cooper S Convertible | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 25 | 33 | 28 |
| Cooper Countryman | 1.5L 3-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 24 | 33 | 28 |
| Cooper Countryman | 1.5L 3-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 25 | 33 | 28 |
| Cooper Clubman | 1.5L 3-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 25 | 34 | 28 |
| Cooper Clubman | 1.5L 3-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 25 | 33 | 28 |
| Cooper S Countryman | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 23 | 32 | 27 |
| Cooper S Clubman | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 23 | 33 | 27 |
| Cooper S Hardtop 4 door | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 23 | 32 | 26 |
| Cooper S Hardtop 2 door | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 23 | 32 | 26 |
| Cooper S Countryman All4 | 2.0L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 22 | 31 | 26 |
| Cooper S Convertible | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 23 | 32 | 26 |
| Cooper S Clubman All4 | 2.0L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 22 | 31 | 26 |
| Cooper Countryman All4 | 1.5L 3-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 22 | 32 | 26 |
| Cooper Clubman All4 | 1.5L 3-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 22 | 32 | 26 |
| Cooper S Clubman | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 22 | 31 | 25 |
| Cooper Countryman All4 | 1.5L 3-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 23 | 30 | 25 |
| Cooper Clubman All4 | 1.5L 3-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 22 | 29 | 25 |
| Cooper S Countryman All4 | 2.0L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 21 | 31 | 24 |
| Cooper S Clubman All4 | 2.0L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 21 | 30 | 24 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2017 Mini Cooper: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2017 Mini Cooper?
Owners filed 22 NHTSA complaints about the 2017 Mini Cooper — fewer complaints than 67% of comparable 2017 hatchbacks, so it sits toward the stronger end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2017 Mini Cooper?
The most-reported problem areas are Air Bags (14% of complaints) and electrical system (14%).
How many recalls does the 2017 Mini Cooper have?
3 recalls have been issued that affect the 2017 Mini Cooper, covering components such as seat belts. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Mini Cooper get?
The EPA rates the 2017 Mini Cooper between 24 and 32 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.