NHTSA vehicle safety data

2016 Mini Cooper Convertible Recalls & Complaints

The 2016 Mini Cooper Convertible has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mini dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2016 Mini Cooper Convertible. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2016 Mini Cooper Convertible owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2016 Mini Cooper Convertible, describing incidents dated October 10, 2023.

Most-cited components

Engine 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11700391 · Filed November 19, 2025
The Environmental Air Catalyst (EAC) Sensor on my 2016 MINI failed two years ago when I had only 25,000 miles on the car. (The car now has 30,200 miles on it; I do not drive it very much). NHTSA worked with MINI/BMW several years ago, and MINI extended a limited warranty for this sensor to 15…

Read the full complaint

Turn Signal Deactivates Inner Brake Lamp/FMVSS 108

NHTSA #17V222000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights · NHTSA notice

Reported March 31, 2017 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 16,883 vehicles

Repair completion: 98.19% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified May 19, 2017 · Vehicles built September 1, 2015 – March 23, 2017 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

If the brake light does not illuminate when a turn signal is activated, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Seat Belt may Not Lock/FMVSS 209

NHTSA #16V747000 · Seat Belts — Front — Retractor · NHTSA notice

Reported October 17, 2016 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 15,455 vehicles

Repair completion: 89.71% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified July 3, 2019 · Vehicles built July 5, 2016 – September 6, 2016 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Steering Gearbox Malfunction

NHTSA #15V887000 · Steering — Gear Box (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) · NHTSA notice

Reported December 30, 2015 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 2 vehicles

Repair completion: 100% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified December 28, 2015 · Vehicles built November 24, 2015 – November 24, 2015 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling one model year 2016 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door vehicle manufactured November 24, 2015, and one BMW X1 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) manufactured October, 19 2015. The steering gearbox may have been manufactured with incorrect parts.

Safety consequence

A gearbox malfunction may cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

BMW will replace the steering gearbox, free of charge. Affected vehicles are located in dealer inventory and will be remedied before customer retail. The recall began on December 28, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2016 Mini Cooper Convertible. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Mini Cooper Convertible.

Engine

ODI #11700391

Incident: October 10, 2023 · Filed: November 19, 2025

The Environmental Air Catalyst (EAC) Sensor on my 2016 MINI failed two years ago when I had only 25,000 miles on the car. (The car now has 30,200 miles on it; I do not drive it very much). NHTSA worked with MINI/BMW several years ago, and MINI extended a limited warranty for this sensor to 15 years/150,000 miles, but only for Cooper "S" models. Mine is not an "S". See Recall "S1 M01 05 20" The S has a BMW "B46M PZEV/SULEV " engine, which is covered by the extended warranty. My car - not the "S" model - has the BMW "B36M" engine. This is not covered by the extended warranty noted above. I have gone online and saw lots of complaints, as this appears to be a very common problem. A MINI dealer in Richmond, VA told me the same thing: the sensor fails, and you have to replace the entire radiator because the sensor is attached to it. I was quoted more than $2,000 to fix this problem. It seems to me that this defect is as common in the non "S" MINI Cooper's as it is in the "S" versions, and that MINI should extend the same warranty to vehicles with the B36M engines. Can you help?

Other Mini Cooper Convertible model years

Check your 2016 Mini Cooper Convertible VIN

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