Mini Cooper — YEARS TO AVOID

Data updated 2026-08-02. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

Avoid: 2005, 2003, 2004 · Best bets: 2014, 2013, 2015, 2012, 2011, 2010

COMPLAINT HISTORY

Complaints per year, Mini Cooper Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2026 highlighted. 2001: 6 complaints 2001 2002: 187 complaints 2003: 320 complaints 2004: 282 complaints 2005: 372 complaints 2005 2006: 200 complaints 2007: 115 complaints 2008: 115 complaints 2009: 150 complaints 2009 2010: 92 complaints 2011: 82 complaints 2012: 65 complaints 2013: 47 complaints 2013 2014: 34 complaints 2015: 54 complaints 2016: 28 complaints 2017: 28 complaints 2017 2018: 8 complaints 2019: 12 complaints 2020: 7 complaints 2021: 7 complaints 2021 2022: 6 complaints 2023: 7 complaints 2024: 1 complaints 2025: 1 complaints 2025 2026: 1 complaints 2026
2026: 1 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
20016
2002187
2003320
2004282
2005372
2006200
2007115
2008115
2009150
201092
201182
201265
201347
201434
201554
201628
201728
20188
201912
20207
20217
20226
20237
20241
20251
20261

EVERY YEAR, RANKED

YearRankingComplaintsWhy
2026 Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2025 Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2024 Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2023 Not enough data 7 Only 7 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2022 Not enough data 6 Only 6 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2021 Not enough data 7 Only 7 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2020 Not enough data 7 Only 7 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2019 Not enough data 12 Only 12 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2018 Not enough data 8 Only 8 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2017 Not enough data 28 Only 28 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2016 Not enough data 28 Only 28 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2015 Recommended 54 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2014 Recommended 34 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2013 Recommended 47 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2012 Recommended 65 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2011 Recommended 82 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2010 Recommended 92 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2009 Caution 150 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2008 Recommended 115 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2007 Recommended 115 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2006 Caution 200 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2005 Avoid 372 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2004 Avoid 282 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2003 Avoid 320 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2002 Caution 187 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2001 Not enough data 6 Only 6 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.