YearToAvoid

2007 MINI Cooper S Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2007 MINI Cooper S ranks worst of 19 model years with a complaint index of 100 and 249 complaints, most tied to the engine. NHTSA lists 4 recalls, and owners reported 14 fires, mostly under-hood, with engine failures showing up around 52,000 miles median.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
100/100
#1 of 19 Cooper S years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
249
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
4
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
2
reported in complaints
Fires
14
Injuries
10
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2019
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27
24 city / 31 hwy
Injuries / deaths
10 / 0

Top 2007 MINI Cooper S problems

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

  1. Engine176 (71%)
  2. Airbags28 (11%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain26 (10%)
  4. Fuel System15 (6%)
  5. Electrical System14 (6%)
  6. Other12 (5%)
  7. Steering7 (3%)
  8. Structure & Body7 (3%)
  9. Seat Belts4 (2%)
  10. Brakes3 (1%)

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

What owners report

  • Engine compartment fires start under the hood, sometimes while parked and turned off after a short drive.
  • Owners report smoke or a burning odor coming from under the hood at low speeds, often followed by visible flames near the auxiliary water pump or wiring.
  • The clutch develops a burning-plastic smell and can fail suddenly at low speed.
  • Airbags failed to deploy in a rollover crash after the vehicle lost control on a slick road surface.
  • A fire recurred even after a dealer performed the engine cooling recall repair the day before.
  • Some owners describe stalling and overheating with smoke from the engine compartment while driving at various speeds.
2007 MINI Cooper S complaints: complaints filed per quarter212007 Q42009 Q32011 Q22013 Q12014 Q42017 Q12019 Q1
249 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2007 Q4 to 2025 Q2; peak 2012 Q2 (21).

2007 MINI Cooper S recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V337000May 11, 2023Electrical System97,933 vehicles

    Electrical system

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2014 MINI Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Clubman John Cooper Works, and 2007-2013 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. The electronic control module in the driver's side footwell area may short-circuit, due to corrosion from water and road salt.

    Risk: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the sunroof drains, interior footwell area, and FRM and, depending upon the results of the inspection, certain components will be replaced. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

  2. NHTSA 18V248000Apr 18, 2018Engine47,806 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.

    Risk: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.

  3. NHTSA 12V008000Jan 11, 2012Engine90,368 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

    Bmw is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 mini cooper s, 2008-2011 mini cooper s clubman, 2009-2011 mini cooper s convertible, 2009-2011 mini cooper jcw, 2009-2011 mini cooper jcw clubman, 2009-2011 cooper jcw convertible, and 2011 cooper s countryman passenger cars manufactured from november 14, 2006, through january 18, 2011. The electric auxiliary water pump that cools the turbocharger has an electronic circuit board that can malfunction and overheat.

    Risk: The circuit board may smolder which could result in a vehicle fire.

    Remedy: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump free of charge. The safety recall beganduring february 2012. Owners may contact bmw at 1-866-275-6464.

See all 4 recalls for the 2007 MINI Cooper S →

2007 MINI Cooper S fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24 MPG
Highway
31 MPG
Combined
27 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
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 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’19’20’21’22’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid94314224
2006Avoid78186124
2007Avoid100249427
2008Avoid89168428
2009Avoid83119327.5

All MINI Cooper S years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2007 MINI Cooper S reliable?
It is the least reliable year among the 19 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 249 owner complaints, most involving the engine.
Does the 2007 MINI Cooper S have a fire risk?
NHTSA complaints include 14 reported fires for this model year, many originating under the hood, and one recall (12V008000) targets the water pump tied to engine cooling.
What is the top problem area for the 2007 MINI Cooper S?
Engine problems make up 71% of complaints (176 of 249), with a median failure mileage of 52,000 miles.
How many recalls does the 2007 MINI Cooper S have?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for this model year, covering the electrical system, engine cooling water pump, and a tailpipe clearance issue.
Which MINI Cooper S years are safer than 2007?
Later years rank better, including 2019 with a complaint index of 17 (Best) and 2017 with an index of 28 (Good), compared to 100 for 2007.

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.