2017 MINI Cooper S recalls and problems

The 2017 MINI Cooper S has 3 safety recalls and 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any MINI dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes / fires

1 / 0

Injuries / deaths

1 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2017 MINI Cooper S vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2017 MINI Cooper S recalls

Recall 17V-222: Exterior Lighting

Reported Mar 31, 2017 · 16,883 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

Problem: 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.

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. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

Recall 16V-914: Air Bags

Reported Dec 20, 2016 · 3,506 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Recall 16V-747: Seat Belts

Reported Oct 17, 2016 · 15,455 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

2017 MINI Cooper S problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Engine	2
Service Brakes	2
Air Bags	1
Vehicle Speed Control	1
Electrical System	1
Forward Collision Avoidance	1
Unknown or Other	1

Most reported parts

Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 17,200 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2017 MINI Cooper S complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Service Brakes · reported Sep 23, 2026

I am reporting a severe safety hazard regarding unprompted, sudden, and uneven vehicle braking that occurs exclusively when the windshield wipers are turned on. While driving in wet conditions with the windshield wipers active, the vehicle intermittently and violently applies the brakes on its own without any input on the brake pedal. This creates a sudden deceleration and causes the vehicle to pull erratically, posing an immediate risk of a rear-end collision or a loss of vehicle control.Research into the vehicle's engineering reveals that this is a severe malfunction of the Automated Brake…

Engine · at 101,000 miles · reported Mar 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine was vibrating abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the passengerâs side engine mount needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the passengerâs side engine mount had been replaced five years ago, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately…

Unknown or Other · reported Mar 27, 2025

Hi, the component is the water seals around the trunk lid of the rear boot; this results in water intrusion. Yes, it is available for inspection upon request. Water has been collecting on the interior car body, including electrical components related to rear lights (brakes, turn signal, reverse) as well as resulting mold growth. Yes, the problem has been confirmed by Weatherford BMW, and despite there being a service bulletin open (MINI TSB SI M51 05 16) for a design flaw, BMW/MINI is refusing to fix the issue outside of warranty. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the…

Service Brakes · reported Sep 18, 2024

While driving in the rain, the ABS engages, slowing the front right tire dramatically causing the car to skid and lurch to the right. After some internet research, it appears that this is not an isolated incident. Mini Cooper owners also discovered that when driving in dry conditions and the windshield wiper is turned on, the front right tire slows, causing the car to skid and lurch to the right. European Automotive verified that this was the case on my vehicle. This started without any warning and was terrifying. I told both the local mechanic and the dealer that I would not drive the car…

Air Bags · at 17,200 miles · reported Jan 10, 2018

I was hit head on last night and air bags did not deploy. I had slowed to approx 10 MPH while vehicle that hit me was traveling approx 20-30mph. Vehicle the hit me was a mid 200's trail blazer.

Other MINI Cooper S years

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Frequently asked questions

Does the 2017 MINI Cooper S have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2017 MINI Cooper S: 17V-222 (exterior lighting), 16V-914 (air bags), 16V-747 (seat belts). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2017 MINI Cooper S?

Owners report engine problems most often (2 reports), followed by service brakes (2). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 17,200 miles.

Are MINI recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized MINI dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.