2017 MINI Clubman Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2017 MINI Clubman, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Exterior lighting523.8%
- Powertrain (other)523.8%
- Brakes314.3%
- Electrical29.5%
- Engine29.5%
- Visibility14.8%
- Fuel system14.8%
- Transmission14.8%
- Airbags14.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 Mini Cooper Clubman. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a message was displayed that the rear brake light was not functioning. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the body domain controller needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V222000 (Exterior Lighting); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 48,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Mini Cooper Clubman. The contact stated that on two separate occasions, the rear passenger’s side brake light wiring harness had melted which led to a defective brake light. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the taillight was replaced. The contact stated that after the last failure the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 43,995.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
There is a defect in the vehicle that is associated with a pervasive design flaw, wherein a spring fails in the gearbox, preventing the car from showing as parked.
Message on start and stop - “Secure vehicle with parking brake when stopped. Consult service center” service center says $2K to fix for a $an inexpensive part. Does not impact performance of car but sounds like a safety issue.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
There is a defect in the vehicle that is associated with a pervasive design flaw, wherein a spring fails in the gearbox, preventing the car from showing as parked.
I OWN A 2017 MINI CLUBMAN, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHAT TURNS ON ARE THE REAR FOG LIGHTS LOCATED IN THE BOTTOM REAR BUMPER. THE MAIN REAR TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BREAK PEDAL IS PRESSED. THIS CAUSES VEHICLES NEARLY REAR ENDING MY VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN HIT AND AN EXPLANATION HAD TO BE GIVEN TO THE POLICE AS A REAR TAIL LIGHT TICKET WAS GOING TO BE ISSUED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS SHOULD BE DIVERTED TO WHERE THEY BELONG "REAR TAIL LIGHTS" AND NOT THE REAR BOTTOM BUMPER FOG LIGHTS. VERY UNSAFE AND THIS DESIGN SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Rear parking brake light in the bumper has caused a short and failed twice, after complete replacement of light assembly.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Mini Clubman. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the dealer for servicing, the dealer informed the contact that based on the Carfax history report, there was a mileage discrepancy; however, the contact did not have the Carfax information available. Additionally, the contact stated that an inspection form and a GAP waiver document also showed a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a used car dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 108,396 on August 31, 2023; however, the mileage was 108,640 on the inspection form dated July 1, 2023, and the mileage was 108,990 on the GAP waiver document dated August 31, 2023.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
on 10-15-2024 while i was on my way home my mini caught fire while driving. total loss, i was driving about 65mph and my coworker who travel the same direction flagged me down then calling me to tell me my car was smoking really bad. after i pulled directly over to the side of the road and went to pop the hood and saw nothing but smoke rising up from under the hood. with in 5-10 mins the whole front of the are was engulfed in flames. the damage was so bad that it was undetermined what caused the fire.
I went into HGreg Nissan of Buena Park/Nissan of Buena Park on [XXX] to look at a car. When I got there, I asked to see the car that they had advertised. Once I signed the necessary paperwork, purchased a bumper-to-bumper warranty as told by the salesperson. I was also told that I would receive a full tank of gas, but I did not. I took that car the Mini Cooper dealership, for a diagnostic test, and was told that there was damage to the engine. The engine light came on, so I had to leave the car at the dealership. Once I purchased the car from the dealership, me as a person who does not understand how dealership processes paperwork and have purchased cars in the past, I have never experienced such blatant disregard for honesty, who deal in deception, and have no moral ethics than with this particular dealership, just for the sale of a car. I received a phone call from a Lady by the name of Alva on 06/28/24 from HGreg Nissan of Buena Park/Nissan of Buena Park which is more than 3 months after the purchase of this vehicle, and she advised me that I needed to come in so that they could do a smog check on the vehicle, and that they let the paperwork expire. This company never processed the necessary paperwork, to the DMV so that this car could be registered to me. This company did not have a smog check done because they knew that it would not pass because the engine light came on. Since that necessary paperwork has not been filed with the DMV the lender of this vehicle is now telling me that they will increase the interest because of this problem. According to CA Law Smog Certifications are required for all sales or title transfers of gasoline-powered vehicles that are four or more years old, and this company did not provide this information to the CA Department of Motor Vehicles. This dealership knew that the engine was faulty which is why they never performed a Smog Check the engine light came on 1 week after it was purchased. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
Component/System That Failed: The oil filter housing cracked, causing a coolant leak. This part was made of plastic, which appears to be a weak point in the design and should ideally be aluminum for durability. Unfortunately, I no longer have the failed part for inspection. Safety Risk: The coolant loss resulted in a sudden loss of heat in freezing temperatures, which could be dangerous for drivers and passengers in winter conditions. While the engine did not overheat, the loss of coolant could have eventually led to engine overheating and failure, posing a safety risk if left undetected. Problem Confirmation: The issue was confirmed by an independent service center, which verified that the plastic oil filter housing cracked, leading to a coolant leak. The technician noted that this type of failure should not occur at such low mileage and suggested that the part’s material may be a design flaw. Inspection by Manufacturer or Others: At this time, the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. However, reports from other Mini owners suggest similar failures, indicating a potential widespread defect. Warning Signs Before Failure: There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure. The first noticeable sign was a loss of cabin heat in extremely cold weather. Upon checking, I discovered that the coolant level had dropped due to the leak.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Warning to apply parking brake and contact service. Apparently a common occurrence with automatic transmission with the failure of the gear selection switch.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
The car has a warning light "secure car against rolling" at first I thought it was a reminder to set the parking brake. The next warning light was "service required" - I just bought this 2017 Mini Clubman two weeks ago so I took it to the mini dealer service center. The motor mount, gear shifter, brakes were all affected and need replacing. When I looked up the "warning light" online - there are literally forums where this specific warning is discussed. I feel this should be an active recall item for Mini Coopers. I could have easily dismissed the warning as a parking brake notice - and caused an accident by letting it go.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owned a 2017 Mini Clubman. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH the vehicle in the lane ahead lost control and spun sideways into the path of the contact's vehicle. The contact stated that his vehicle crashed into the driver's door and slightly behind into the cab of the pick up truck. The contact stated that at the moment of the crash none of his air bags deployed. The contact stated that the seat belts had held him in place in his seat. The contact stated that the police arrived on scene as well as EMS. The contact stated that both he and the driver of the other vehicle were transported by ambulance to the emergency room. The contact had bruises on both shoulders, and had fractured his sternum. Additionally, he had whiplash and had herniated his sternum, pelvis and stomach. The police had written a report but the contact did not have the report number. The contact stated that both vehicles were towed to impound lots. The contact stated that his insurance provider declared his vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,630.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .