2017 MINI Cooper S Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Sep 23, 2026 · 6 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Cooper S years
Not enough data 16th of 22 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 MINI Cooper S. That ranks 16th out of 22 Cooper S model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (2 complaints, 33%), typically at around 58,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 injury. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2017 MINI Cooper S problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Engine2 · ~58,000 mi
Service Brakes2
Air Bags1 · ~17,200 mi
Electrical System1
Forward Collision Avoidance1
Unknown or Other1
Vehicle Speed Control1 · ~15,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Engine233%58,000——
Service Brakes233%———
Air Bags117%17,200——
Electrical System117%———
Forward Collision Avoidance117%———
Unknown or Other117%———
Vehicle Speed Control117%15,000——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2026, with 2 complaints
2018: 1201812019: 1201912024: 1202412025: 1202512026: 220262

n = 6 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2017 MINI Cooper S recalls (3)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Exterior lighting:brake lightsMar 31, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V222000 · 16,883 vehicles

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.

Air bagsDec 20, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V914000 · 3,506 vehicles

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.

Seat belts:front:retractorOct 17, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V747000 · 15,455 vehicles

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.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

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…

Service Brakes · received Sep 23, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11766469

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 passenger’s side engine mount needed to be replaced. The…

Engine · received Mar 9, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11723036

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…

Unknown or Other · received Mar 27, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11651162

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…

Service Brakes · received Sep 18, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11615276

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FREEPORT MINI COOPER (280 SUNRISE HWY, FREEPORT, NY 11520, [redacted]) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE…

Engine · received May 24, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11209703

Other MINI Cooper S years

← 2016 Cooper S · 2019 Cooper S →

See all MINI Cooper S problems by year, every MINI model, or the MINI VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2017 MINI Cooper S?

Owners most often report engine, service brakes, air bags problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 2 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2017 MINI Cooper S?

Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2017 MINI Cooper S a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Cooper S model years, the 2017 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.