The Lemon Index
202020223rd generation (F56)
7 owner complaints, first 3 years 26–31 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2021 Nissan Versa 362021 Hyundai Accent2021 Kia Rio 43
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
No complaints for this year listed a mileage, so we can't say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 21V554000 (seat belts) and 20V283000 (airbags) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
- Mini sent dealers 46 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “?REPLACING THE CELL MODULE OF HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY: During the service life of the vehicle,…”?
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 7 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 →
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 2021 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 46 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- ?REPLACING THE CELL MODULE OF HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY: During the service life of the vehicle,…
- ?REPLACING THE CELL MODULE OF HIGHVOLTAGE BATTERY: During the service life of the vehicle, the…
- REPLACING THE CELL MODULE OF HIGHVOLTAGE BATTERY: During the service life of the vehicle, the…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 2
- Seat belts · recall issued 2021
During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.
- Airbags · recall issued 2020
Due to a problem with the rollover sensor within the air bag control unit, in the event of a rollover crash, the head air bag, seat belt pretensioners and other safety systems, may not activate.
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 SE 3 HB FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,400–$2,900 (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, 2.0L 4-cyl.
Every Mini Cooper year. 2021 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 2021 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/mini-cooper/?y=2021" 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/2021/">Lemon Index</a> (2021 Mini Cooper reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2021 Mini Cooper reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew about a third as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 31; 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 2021 Mini Cooper problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (43%), tires (14%) and airbags (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2021 Mini Cooper have?
2 safety recalls (latest: seat belts). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Mini Cooper get?
26 to 31 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2021 Mini Cooper have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2021 Mini Cooper cost in fuel a year?
About $2,400 to $2,900 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2021 Mini Cooper have?
1.5L 3-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
What Mini Cooper year is better than the 2021?
Nearby, the 2022 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about a quarter 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