RoadVitals

2017 MINI Cooper S Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
5
Latest Mar 9, 2026
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2017 MINI Cooper S, 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

  • Driver assistance228.6%
  • Engine228.6%
  • Airbags114.3%
  • Brakes114.3%
  • Electrical114.3%

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

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

While driving in the rain, the ABS engages, slowing the front right tire dramatically causing the car to skid and lurch to the right. After some internet research, it appears that this is not an isolated incident. Mini Cooper owners also discovered that when driving in dry conditions and the windshield wiper is turned on, the front right tire slows, causing the car to skid and lurch to the right. European Automotive verified that this was the case on my vehicle. This started without any warning and was terrifying. I told both the local mechanic and the dealer that I would not drive the car until it was repaired. There were no warning lights. The local mechanic and the dealer were unable to find any fault codes. The dealer is 3 hours away. Before we knew what the problem was, I towed the car to the dealership and they were unable to replicate the problem. All test drives were done in dry conditions. They replaced the cruise control sensor and the steering wheel and then delivered the car to me saying it was repaired. While driving the car back from out of town, it began to rain, when the windshield wipers came on, the front tire slowed dramatically, lurching the car to the right. This is a terrifying experience, especially in the rain. It seems this is not an isolated incident and may have already caused serious accidents. The car is less than 50,000 miles old and has been used for work only. I have not driven the car out of fear of an accident and have parked it in my driveway waiting for some type of resolution with the dealer.

NHTSA ID 11615276 · filed Sep 18, 2024

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FREEPORT MINI COOPER (280 SUNRISE HWY, FREEPORT, NY 11520, (516) 665-1246) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND HAD A SPECIALIST EXAMINE THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ID 11209703 · filed May 24, 2019

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2017 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine was vibrating abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the passenger’s side engine mount needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the passenger’s side engine mount had been replaced five years ago, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.

NHTSA ID 11723036 · filed Mar 9, 2026

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FREEPORT MINI COOPER (280 SUNRISE HWY, FREEPORT, NY 11520, (516) 665-1246) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND HAD A SPECIALIST EXAMINE THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ID 11209703 · filed May 24, 2019

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I WAS HIT HEAD ON LAST NIGHT AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAD SLOWED TO APPROX 10 MPH WHILE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME WAS TRAVELING APPROX 20-30MPH. VEHICLE THE HIT ME WAS A MID 200'S TRAIL BLAZER. *BF *TR

NHTSA ID 11061571 · filed Jan 10, 2018

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

While driving in the rain, the ABS engages, slowing the front right tire dramatically causing the car to skid and lurch to the right. After some internet research, it appears that this is not an isolated incident. Mini Cooper owners also discovered that when driving in dry conditions and the windshield wiper is turned on, the front right tire slows, causing the car to skid and lurch to the right. European Automotive verified that this was the case on my vehicle. This started without any warning and was terrifying. I told both the local mechanic and the dealer that I would not drive the car until it was repaired. There were no warning lights. The local mechanic and the dealer were unable to find any fault codes. The dealer is 3 hours away. Before we knew what the problem was, I towed the car to the dealership and they were unable to replicate the problem. All test drives were done in dry conditions. They replaced the cruise control sensor and the steering wheel and then delivered the car to me saying it was repaired. While driving the car back from out of town, it began to rain, when the windshield wipers came on, the front tire slowed dramatically, lurching the car to the right. This is a terrifying experience, especially in the rain. It seems this is not an isolated incident and may have already caused serious accidents. The car is less than 50,000 miles old and has been used for work only. I have not driven the car out of fear of an accident and have parked it in my driveway waiting for some type of resolution with the dealer.

NHTSA ID 11615276 · filed Sep 18, 2024

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

While driving in the rain, the ABS engages, slowing the front right tire dramatically causing the car to skid and lurch to the right. After some internet research, it appears that this is not an isolated incident. Mini Cooper owners also discovered that when driving in dry conditions and the windshield wiper is turned on, the front right tire slows, causing the car to skid and lurch to the right. European Automotive verified that this was the case on my vehicle. This started without any warning and was terrifying. I told both the local mechanic and the dealer that I would not drive the car until it was repaired. There were no warning lights. The local mechanic and the dealer were unable to find any fault codes. The dealer is 3 hours away. Before we knew what the problem was, I towed the car to the dealership and they were unable to replicate the problem. All test drives were done in dry conditions. They replaced the cruise control sensor and the steering wheel and then delivered the car to me saying it was repaired. While driving the car back from out of town, it began to rain, when the windshield wipers came on, the front tire slowed dramatically, lurching the car to the right. This is a terrifying experience, especially in the rain. It seems this is not an isolated incident and may have already caused serious accidents. The car is less than 50,000 miles old and has been used for work only. I have not driven the car out of fear of an accident and have parked it in my driveway waiting for some type of resolution with the dealer.

NHTSA ID 11615276 · filed Sep 18, 2024

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

Data on this page last refreshed .