2017 Mini Cooper: common problems and reliability

One of the better Cooper years.

22 owner complaints, most about exterior lighting. 3 recalls.

Should I buy a 2017 Cooper?

The 2017 Mini Cooper has 22 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are exterior lighting and power train.

Safety record for the 2017 model year

22
Owner complaints
3
Recalls
5
Crash reports
0
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2017 Mini Cooper vehicles (US, public record).

The Year Score compares this year with other Cooper years only. How we score it

Is 2017 a good year for the Cooper?

Across the 19 Cooper model years we track, complaint volume runs from 1 (2022) to 1,058 (2004). With 22 complaints, the 2017 Cooper sits below the model's median of 127.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

exterior lighting
5
power train
4
electrical system
4
engine
3
air bags
3

Recalls affecting the 2017 Cooper

seat belts:front:retractor

Campaign 16V747000

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, MINI Hardtop 4 Door Cooper, Mini Hardtop 4 Door Cooper S, MINI Cooper Clubman, and Cooper S Clubman, 2017 Rolls-Royce Ghost, and 2016 528i vehicles. The vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism of the seat belt Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) for the driver's seat may not lock as designed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."

exterior lighting:brake lights

Campaign 17V222000

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2016-2017 MINI Cooper Clubman, Cooper S Clubman and JCW Clubman vehicles. When the affected vehicles are braking and the turn signals are on, the inner, bumper-mounted, brake light will go out. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

air bags

Campaign 16V914000

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.

What owners say across generations

\nSentiment is sharply divided by generation, with owner satisfaction heavily dependent on model year and powertrain.

Owner insights cover all generations of the Cooper. See the full Cooper owner picture and every model year.

Other Cooper model years

Compare every Cooper year side by side to see how 2017 ranks against the rest.

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