2016 MINI Cooper recalls
Reported Oct 7, 2015 · 6,073 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC
Problem: 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. 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."
Risk: 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.
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. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525 and BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
2016 MINI Cooper problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|
| Engine | 10 | |
| Electrical System | 8 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | |
| Power Train | 6 | |
| Air Bags | 2 | |
| Seat Belts | 1 | |
| Steering | 1 | |
| Suspension | 1 | |
| Structure | 1 | |
| Seats | 1 | |
| Equipment | 1 | |
| Service Brakes | 1 | |
Most reported parts
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 97,359 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 2016 MINI Cooper complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Engine · reported Jun 22, 2026
2015 and 2016 Hard top Mini Coopers, Standard (F55) are prone to their environmental air catalyst sensor breaking, causing a check engine light and emissions issues. The remedy is replacing the entire radiator. This occurred on my vehicle at only 40,000 miles. MINI is aware of the issue, but only issued an extended warranty for "S" (or 4-cylinder) models, despite the 3-cylinder base model containing the same radiator sensors with the same defects. [XXX] This extended warranty should cover base models with the same parts. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5…
Engine · reported Jan 16, 2026
The malfunction indicator lamp light is on (MIL) with the following fault code stored in the DME: Fault code Control module Fault code text 1B8302 DME LIN bus, communication (EAC sensor): missing Problem verified. Don't know if car will quit on the highway. Mini recall for exact problem and extended warranty to solve the problem only on the "S" model with the exact same engine.
Electrical System · reported Aug 4, 2025
The rear brake lights and rear signal indicator lights keep going in and out arbitrarily. It's dangerous because it will work fine and then just randomly stop working and then work again. People can't tell if I'm stopping or turning when this randomly occurs. This is currently not a recall on my Mini, however, I saw that it is a recall on other Minis and it seems mine is having the same issue so it's possible they all have similar or the same faulty wiring/electrical for the brake lights and signal indicator lights.
Engine · reported Jan 31, 2025
Oil filter housing failure. MINI issued a recall for this part in 2014 when the third generation MINI Cooper S/JCW first launched. Unfortunately they did not fix the part and now as time goes on, the issue is occurring with high frequency on every BMW/MINI and Toyota Supra with the BMW B46/B48 2.0L turbocharged engine. The plastic oil filter housings crack causing oil and coolant to leak. In my case oil poured down the front of the hot engine which could have caused a fire. BMW/MINI dealers charge nearly $2500 to repair this failure. The ODI should investigate this concern as it has been…
Engine · reported Jan 17, 2025
Drivetrain error occurred. I pulled codes and found P0015. I added oil, cleared code. The next day the drivetrain error popped back up. Pulled codes and found P0366. I took the vehicle to mechanic for diagnostics and to find the issue. They found faults: 130F11 and 120408. When replacing engine oil and filter, they found metal shavings in the oil; bearing material. They are recommending replacing the engine. Doing research, it appears this has been a common occurrence with these vehicles/engines. Is there a current recall on some of these engines, or a possibility for a discounted replacement…
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2016 MINI Cooper have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2016 MINI Cooper: 15V-628 (air bags). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 MINI Cooper?
Owners report engine problems most often (10 reports), followed by electrical system (8). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 97,359 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.