The Lemon Index
201520173rd generation (F56)
16 owner complaints, first 3 years 27–32 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2016 Honda Fit 582016 Toyota Yaris2016 Nissan Versa 38
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 8 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 17V222000 (lights), 16V747000 (seat belts) and 15V887000 (steering) done? It has 4 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do all the headlights, taillights and turn signals work?
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
- Do all the seat belts latch and retract?
- Mini sent dealers 357 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “KAFAS (CAMERA-BASED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS) LIMITATIONS: KAFAS camera-based assistance…”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Mini's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 16 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 6K to 43K miles (10K to 69K km) on the car (8 of all 16 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 38.7M views · 2014–2024 Mini Cooper
Most-watched topics
- Gauges, lights & wiring485K views
How To Reset Oil Life On 2014 - 2021 Mini Cooper - Clear Service Due Light After Oil ChangePYR Automotive · 147K views · 4 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical238K views
How To Unlock, Open & Start 2014 - 2021 Mini Cooper With Dead Remote Key Fob BatteryPYR Automotive · 129K views · 2 videos - Oil changes & service158K views
How To Reset Oil Life On 2014 - 2021 Mini Cooper / maintenance reminder resetOil Light Reset · 95K views · 2 videos - Transmission & shifter76K views
HOW TO: Replace Shifter Solenoid/Assembly on 2014-2019 Mini Cooper F-ChassisGavin · 76K views
Before you buy, watch
THE MINI (F55/F56/3rd gen) BUYERS GUIDE | AVOID THIS CAR until you watch this!Scottish Car Clan · 243K views
Should You Buy a MINI COOPER S D? (Test Drive & Review F56)High Peak Autos · 160K views
MINI Cooper SE / Electric (F56): 5 ANNOYING PROBLEMS After Half a Year of OwnershipMartin Karel · 69K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2016 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Mini told dealers about
Mini sent dealers 357 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- KAFAS (CAMERA-BASED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS) LIMITATIONS: KAFAS camera-based assistance…
- For this vehicle, the automatic transmission limited warranty for the vehicle Selector Lever…
- For the eligible vehicles listed above, the limited warranty for the vehicles Selector Lever…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 4
- Lights · recall issued 2017
When the affected vehicles are braking and the turn signals are on, the inner, bumper-mounted, brake light will go out.
- Seat belts · recall issued 2016
The vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism of the seat belt Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) for the driver's seat may not lock as designed.
- Steering · recall issued 2015
A gearbox malfunction may cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.
Show all 4 recalls
- Airbags · recall issued 2015
Due to a manufacturing error, the passenger frontal air bag may not deploy properly in a low speed crash.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Cooper Countryman 5 HB FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| Mini Cooper Hardtop 5 HB FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| Mini Cooper Hardtop 3 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,350–$2,800 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 1.5L 3-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl.
Every Mini Cooper year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 3 older years (2002–2004, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 19 Mini Cooper years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2016 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/mini-cooper/?y=2016" title="Mini Cooper reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="583" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/mini-cooper/2016/">Lemon Index</a> (2016 Mini Cooper reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2016 Mini Cooper reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew a bit under half as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 40; 100 is average, lower is better). The Mini Cooper year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2013.
What are the most common 2016 Mini Cooper problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are lights (25%), brakes (12%) and seat belts (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Mini Cooper have?
4 safety recalls (latest: lights). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Mini Cooper get?
27 to 32 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2016 Mini Cooper safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2016 Mini Cooper have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 12% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2016 Mini Cooper cost in fuel a year?
About $2,350 to $2,800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Mini Cooper have?
1.5L 3-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl.
What Mini Cooper year is better than the 2016?
Nearby, the 2019 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about a third as many complaints as the average car). Across every year, 2013 drew the fewest.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works