YearToAvoid

2007 MINI Cooper S Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 19 Cooper S years

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

The 2007 MINI Cooper S has 249 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 19 Cooper S model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is engine (176 complaints, 71% of the total). Complaints report 2 crashes, 14 fires, and 10 injuries.

Complaints
249
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
2 / 14
Injuries / deaths
10 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27
24 city / 31 hwy

Top 2007 MINI Cooper S problems

NHTSA owner 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%)
2007 MINI Cooper S complaints: complaints filed per quarter282007 Q42009 Q32011 Q22013 Q12014 Q42017 Q12019 Q1
297 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2007 Q4 to 2025 Q2; peak 2012 Q2 (28).

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 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2007 MINI Cooper S ranks worst among Cooper S model years (Complaint Index 100/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 249 complaints and 4 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 MINI Cooper S?
The most reported problem areas are engine (176 complaints), airbags (28 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (26 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 52,000 miles.
Does the 2007 MINI Cooper S have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2007 MINI Cooper S, most recently reported 2023, covering electrical system and engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2007 MINI Cooper S?
EPA rates the 2007 MINI Cooper S at 27 MPG combined (24 city / 31 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,950. 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.