2016 MINI Cooper S: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 MINI Cooper S: 3 recalls, 9 owner complaints and up to 28 mpg combined.
Recalls
3 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #15V628000 · 2015 · 6,073 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to a manufacturing error, the passenger frontal air bag May not deploy properly in a low speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Why it matters: In the event of a vehicle crash, an air bag that does not deploy properly increases the risk of injury to the front seat passenger.
The fix: 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.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #16V747000 · 2016 · 15,455 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2019.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #17V222000 · 2017 · 16,883 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: If the brake light does not illuminate when a turn signal is activated, other drivers May be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mini will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the vehicle to correct the brake lighting, free of charge. The recall began May 22, 2017.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 0 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (4): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (2), fire / smoke (2).
- Exterior lights (2): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Seat belts (1): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Steering (1): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2016 MINI Cooper S has 9 owner complaints, ranking #15 of 22 Cooper S model years for complaints (well below the 81 average). Complaints peaked in 2017 (2 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 42,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (18 complaints, 4 recalls), 2017 (6 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 33 | 28 | Premium |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 32 | 26 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 MINI Cooper S.
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FAQ
Does the 2016 MINI Cooper S have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recalls for the 2016 MINI Cooper S. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 MINI Cooper S problems?
Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (4), exterior lights (2), seat belts (1).
What gas mileage does the 2016 MINI Cooper S get?
EPA ratings run up to 28 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic (S6)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 MINI Cooper S repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.