2018 MINI Countryman Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2018 MINI Countryman has a complaint index of 36, ranking 8th out of 12 model years, with a Good verdict. It had 11 complaints, 1 recall, and no reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 36/100
- #8 of 12 Countryman years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 11
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Engine
Top 2018 MINI Countryman problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine3 (27%)
- Other3 (27%)
- Steering3 (27%)
- Brakes2 (18%)
- Electrical System2 (18%)
- Fuel System1 (9%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Brake pedal slowly sinks toward the floor at stops, requiring repeated pumping to hold the car in place.
- Front brake caliper freezes, causing excessive and uneven brake wear that later requires repair.
- Steering wheel becomes stiff or hard to turn at low speeds, with resistance that builds over time.
- Steering wheel can stick and become difficult to maneuver, sometimes returning to normal before failing again.
- Dashboard warning lights, headlights, and engine electronics fail to shut off, leaving the vehicle stalled with a dead electrical system.
- Engine loses power without warning after a control module gets wet from an unexplained water leak inside the cabin.
2018 MINI Countryman recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 18V557000Aug 23, 2018Fuel System9,953 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2017-2019 MINI Cooper Countryman vehicles. These vehicles may be missing a crash protection plate near the high pressure fuel pump, which may result in a fuel leak in the event of a crash.
Risk: Without the crash protection plate, in the event of a crash, the fuel pump can become damaged, causing a fuel leak and increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: MINI will notify owners, and dealers will install a crash protection plate, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on October 22, 2018. Owners will receive a second notification when the repair is available. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
2018 compared with other Countryman years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 MINI Countryman reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2018 Countryman a complaint index of 36 with a Good verdict, ranking 8th best among 12 model years of the Countryman.
- What problems does the 2018 MINI Countryman have?
- Owners most often reported engine and steering issues, each making up 27% of complaints, followed by brakes and electrical system problems at 18% each.
- Does the 2018 MINI Countryman have a recall?
- Yes, one recall (18V557000) was issued for a missing crash protection plate near the high-pressure fuel pump, which could result in a fuel leak.
- How does the 2018 Countryman compare to other years?
- The 2018 model outperforms years like 2014, 2016, and 2025, which are rated Avoid with complaint indexes of 82, 91, and 100 respectively.
- At what mileage do 2018 Countryman problems typically appear?
- The median mileage at failure across reported complaints is 13,500 miles, though brake issues appeared as early as a median of 8,000 miles.