YearToAvoid

2007 MINI Cooper S Convertible Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2007 MINI Cooper S Convertible has a complaint index of 29, ranking 6th among 8 model years, and earns a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 8 complaints, 2 recalls, and no crashes or deaths for this year.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
29/100
#6 of 8 Cooper S Convertible years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
8
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
2
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
0
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2009
rated Good
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
23.5
20.5 city / 28.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2007 MINI Cooper S Convertible problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags5 (63%)
  2. Engine1 (13%)
  3. Steering1 (13%)
  4. Structure & Body1 (13%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Passenger-side airbag disabled warning lights illuminate even when an adult occupies the seat, disabling the seatbelt tensioning system.
  • The occupant detection mat fault triggers the passenger airbag light with no clear cause, reported by multiple owners at low mileage.
  • One owner reported an engine fire that destroyed the car after it started from the front of the vehicle at 27,500 miles.
  • Power steering assist cut out suddenly on the freeway and returned after the car was restarted, recurring several times for one owner.
  • Heated seat elements, previously replaced under recall, later overheated and burned holes in the driver's seat upholstery.
2007 MINI Cooper S Convertible complaints: complaints filed per month1Jun 2009Mar 2012Jul 2014Aug 2014Oct 2014Jan 2015Jul 2015Apr 2018
8 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2009 to Apr 2018; peak Jun 2009 (1).

2007 MINI Cooper S Convertible recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 15V205000Apr 6, 2015Airbags91,800 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 MINI Cooper and Cooper S vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to November 28, 2006, and 2005-2008 MINI Cooper Convertible and Cooper S Convertible vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to July 31, 2008. Due to manufacturing, installation, and exposure issues, the front passenger seat occupant detection mat may not function properly and, as a result, the front passenger air bag may not deploy in a crash.

    Risk: An improperly functioning mat may cause the passenger frontal air bag to be inactive when the seat is occupied, and in the event of a crash, the air bag will not deploy, increasing the passenger's risk of injury.

    Remedy: MINI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, free of charge. The recall began on October 12, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

  2. NHTSA 07V533000Nov 20, 2007Other320 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Certain convertible vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, 'tire selection and rims.' the standard requires that the tire size and corresponding tire pressure be indicated on the label and the label does not correspond to the actual tires mounted on the vehicle.

    Risk: Incorrect tire pressure can cause premature wear and tire damage which could lead to unfavorable driving conditions increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with new tire information placards and installation instructions. At the customer's option, a dealer can install the label for them. The recall began on january 16, 2008. Owners may contact mini at 1-866-275-6464.

2007 MINI Cooper S Convertible fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20.5 MPG
Highway
28.5 MPG
Combined
23.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,375
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.

2007 compared with other Cooper S Convertible years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020052006200720082009201020112012
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid10061124
2006Avoid8636124
2007Good298223.5
2008Caution577123.5
2009Good439128

All MINI Cooper S Convertible years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2007 MINI Cooper S Convertible reliable?
It ranks 6th of 8 MINI Cooper S Convertible model years by complaint index (29) and carries a Good verdict relative to other years. NHTSA logged 8 complaints and no crashes or deaths for this year.
What is the top problem area for the 2007 MINI Cooper S Convertible?
Airbags is the top problem area, accounting for 5 of 8 complaints (63%) with a median failure mileage of 25,000 miles.
Does the 2007 MINI Cooper S Convertible have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for a passenger airbag occupant detection mat (campaign 15V205000) and one for tire placard information on convertibles (campaign 07V533000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
What year MINI Cooper S Convertible should I avoid?
Based on complaint index, 2005 (100) and 2006 (86) are rated Avoid, much higher than the 2007 model's index of 29.
Did any 2007 MINI Cooper S Convertible catch fire?
NHTSA recorded 1 fire complaint for this model year, involving an engine fire reported at 27,500 miles.

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.