YearToAvoid

2016 MINI Cooper Convertible Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

71/100

#3 most-complained of 8 Cooper Convertible years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2016 MINI Cooper Convertible has 13 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 71 out of 100 — #3 highest of 8 Cooper Convertible model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is electrical system (5 complaints, 38% of the total). Complaints report 2 injuries.

Complaints
13
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
30
27 city / 36 hwy

Top 2016 MINI Cooper Convertible problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System5 (38%)
  2. Other4 (31%)
  3. Brakes2 (15%)
  4. Engine1 (8%)
  5. Seat Belts1 (8%)
  6. Structure & Body1 (8%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain1 (8%)
2016 MINI Cooper Convertible complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2016Jul 2016Feb 2017Nov 2017Nov 2025
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2016 to Nov 2025; peak Oct 2016 (3).

2016 MINI Cooper Convertible recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 17V222000Mar 31, 2017Electrical System16,883 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:brake lights

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2016-2017 MINI Cooper Clubman, Cooper S Clubman and JCW Clubman vehicles. When the affected vehicles are braking and the turn signals are on, the inner, bumper-mounted, brake light will go out. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Risk: If the brake light does not illuminate when a turn signal is activated, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: MINI will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the vehicle to correct the brake lighting, free of charge. The recall began May 22, 2017. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

  2. NHTSA 16V747000Oct 17, 2016Seat Belts15,455 vehicles

    Seat belts:front:retractor

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, MINI Hardtop 4 Door Cooper, Mini Hardtop 4 Door Cooper S, MINI Cooper Clubman, and Cooper S Clubman, 2017 Rolls-Royce Ghost, and 2016 528i vehicles. The vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism of the seat belt Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) for the driver's seat may not lock as designed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."

    Risk: In the event of a crash where heavy braking is applied, the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) may activate when the occupant is more forward in the seat, possibly increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  3. NHTSA 15V887000Dec 30, 2015Steering2 vehicles

    Steering:gear box (other than rack and pinion)

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling one model year 2016 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door vehicle manufactured November 24, 2015, and one BMW X1 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) manufactured October, 19 2015. The steering gearbox may have been manufactured with incorrect parts.

    Risk: A gearbox malfunction may cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: BMW will replace the steering gearbox, free of charge. Affected vehicles are located in dealer inventory and will be remedied before customer retail. The recall began on December 28, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

2016 MINI Cooper Convertible fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27 MPG
Highway
36 MPG
Combined
30 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,650
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other Cooper Convertible years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020052006200720082009201620222025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2008Good439125.5
2009Avoid8618130.5
2016Caution7113330
2022No verdict01031.5
2025No verdict141130

All MINI Cooper Convertible years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 MINI Cooper Convertible a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2016 MINI Cooper Convertible ranks #3 of 8 among Cooper Convertible model years (Complaint Index 71/100, verdict: Caution). It has 13 complaints and 3 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 MINI Cooper Convertible?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (5 complaints), brakes (2 complaints), and engine (1 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 6,000 miles.
Does the 2016 MINI Cooper Convertible have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2016 MINI Cooper Convertible, most recently reported 2017, covering electrical system, seat belts, and steering.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 MINI Cooper Convertible?
EPA rates the 2016 MINI Cooper Convertible at 30 MPG combined (27 city / 36 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,650. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.