2016 MINI Cooper S

On September 13, 2026, my vehicle experienced a failure of the internal Steptronic automatic transmission gear selector position-detection return spring (torsion spring). This mechanical failure triggered persistent dashboard safety warnings reading: "P Secure vehicle against rolling" and "Transmission: Secure vehicle with parking brake when stopped. Consult service center." Even though the vehicle physically shifts into Park, the broken internal spring prevents the magnet from signaling the sensor. This creates an immediate safety hazard, confusion regarding vehicle state, and an increased risk of vehicle rollaway. MINI is aware of this systematic component failure and issued a 10-year/120,000-mile extended warranty (Service Bulletin SI M01 04 24) to cover it. However, I was denied coverage and forced to pay out-of-pocket for repairs because eligibility was arbitrarily restricted by vehicle production date, despite my vehicle (produced on 6/9/2016) experiencing the exact same mechanical defect, fault codes, and safety risks.

NHTSA ID

11773087

Incident

Sep 13, 2026

Front passenger side motor mount failed pretty terribly, the rubber completely slipped off the engine side mount leaving a severe engine vibration. The mount is very under engineered. Ours failed at 27,0000 miles.

NHTSA ID

11675501

Incident

Jul 22, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Left brake lamp and Tailgate light malfunction" was displayed and while depressing the brake pedal the driver’s side rear brake light failed to illuminate. Additionally, the left turn signal was blinking quickly while activated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the rear brake light bulbs, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the driver’s side brake sensor wiring harness was melted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V222000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 34,000.

NHTSA ID

11652098

Incident

Mar 17, 2025

Mileage

34,000 mi

There have been thousands upon thousands of failures of the oil cooler/oil filter housing on all BMW/MINI B46/B48 2.0T engines. This problem dates back to 2014 when BMW issued a stop sale order and recall on the 2014 MINI Cooper with both the 1.5L I3 (B38) and 2.0L I4 (B48) engines. Since 2014, the engine has been installed in over two million vehicles sold in the United States under the BMW, MINI, Karma, and Toyota brands. There is a defect with the oil cooler/oil filter housing that leads to coolant and oil leaks due to the plastic housing failing after being heat cycled a certain number of times. It has gotten so bad that numerous aftermarket metal replacement parts exist to try and prevent this issue from recurring. Due to the placement of the part on the engine, the repair costs up to $3000. Failures are occurring on vehicles with as little as 30,000 miles, but vast majority between 50,000-80,000 miles. Due to the loss of both oil and coolant, a fire risk exists. Coolant can come in contact with electrical components and cause a short, while the oil can begin to drip onto hot engine or exhaust parts. This is a dangerous hazard that should be recalled. BMW should refit affected engines with a more durable component. Below I have included a link to the original NHTSA stop-sale from 2014. [XXX] I’ve also included links to various forums and news articles about this issue. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] / [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11626962

Incident

Nov 23, 2024

WHILE DRIVING HOME THURSDAY NIGHT I RECEIVED LEFT TAIL LIGHT MALFUNCTION WARING ON MY DASH PANEL WITH THE TURN SIGNAL BLINKING EXTREMELY FAST. AFTER ARRIVING HOME I CHECKED THE LIGHT AND FOUND THAT THE TAIL LIGHT INOPERATIVE AND THE TURN SIGNALS WERE EXTREMELY DIM. THE NEXT MORNING I CALLED TUCSON MINI AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. THE SA STATED TO BRING THE CAR IN AND THEY WOULD CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM. UPON INSPECTION THEY FOUND THAT THE L/H TAIL LIGHT GROUND CONNECTOR AND THE BULB CONNECTOR MELTED. I ASK THE SA WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM AND SHE COULD NOT ANSWER THIS PROBLEM. BUT SHE DID MAKE A COMMENT THAT SHE HAD SEEN HUNDREDS OF THESE PROBLEMS. SOME WHICH CAUSED ENOUGH DAMAGE THAT REQUIRED THE WHOLE TAIL LIGHT TO BE REPLACED. SHE ALSO STATED THAT I WAS LUCK THAT THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR LIMITED TO ONLY THE GROUND CONNECTOR AND THE LIGHT BULB HOLDER. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THE SAME PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED. IN ONE CASE THE PERSON HAD TO REPLACE BOTH TAIL LIGHTS. I BELIEVE THIS IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE.

NHTSA ID

11396364

Incident

Feb 11, 2021

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED 2016 MINI COOPER S. CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING AN SMOKE APPEARED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED HIS WIFE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE WHOLE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE LOT AND DEEMED A TOTALED LOST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND SENT A FIELD INSPECTOR WHOM COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER MOTOR CITY MINI (29929 TELEGRAPH RD. SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT FIRE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMANT 41,000.

NHTSA ID

11322865

Incident

Apr 29, 2020

Mileage

41,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A HILL OF A DRIVEWAY, FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND ROLLED AWAY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED THROUGH THE CONTACT'S GARAGE DOOR. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED AND NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE APPLIED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11245046

Incident

Aug 17, 2019

Mileage

18,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALERTED THE CONTACT TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL DIPSTICK SHOWED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MINI OF FT. MYERS (LOCATED AT 13880 S TAMIAMI TRAIL, FORT MYERS, FL 33908, (239) 205-7816) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE OIL CONSUMPTION WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ID

11182358

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

43,000 mi

MINI electrical systems have continued to develop over the past few years. As a result, the demand on the batteries has increased. Breakdowns due to an empty battery or problems in the vehicles electrical system can have various causes, most of which are not due to the battery itself. For this reason, a battery replacement will permanently eliminate the problem only in the rarest of cases. The energy diagnosis test module helps to localize these causes. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of a discharged battery cannot be identified. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time, it is very important that the diagnostic test plan is performed to completion; with all results taken into consideration.

?BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop: REPLACE CHARGE AIR LINE.

?The panoramic roof sunblind does not close, or jams while closing.

The 3G network in the US has been shut down. This means that only the 4G network will be available. In the 4G network, voice calls will be transferred via Voice over LTE (VoLTE) function. For this purpose, the SIM card must perform an IMS registration in the mobile communication network. Due to a production error, the telematics control units were delivered without an IMS configuration. The Connected Drive voice services (Concierge Call, MINI Assistance and emergency call voice) can no longer be used regionally in the US in vehicle with telematics control units ATM-1 and TCB-4G. Voice control of the vehicle and all other telephone (paired mobile devices) functions are not affected. Emergency call location data is unaffected.

Oscillations in the electric drive can occur. As a result, the 12 V positive battery cable may rub against the battery box cover.

The buttons on the gear selector switch (GWS) do not work, or the function indicator lighting has failed.