2016 Mini COUNTRYMAN
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2016 Mini COUNTRYMAN has 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: i was on a city street going approximately 15 mph when a pickup truck in the lane to my right tried to turn into a driveway i was approaching to my left- his car hit mine and my car rolled over onto the roof and the airbags didn't deploy.. ⚠️ 7 fire reports filed.
24
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
5 complaints- • I WAS ON A CITY STREET GOING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN A PICKUP TRUCK IN THE LANE TO MY RIGHT TRIED TO TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY I WAS APPROACHING TO MY LEFT- HIS CAR HIT MINE AND MY CAR ROLLED OVER ONTO THE ROOF AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.
- • ON NOV 19, 2018 AT 6:00 PM I WAS DRIVING ON 6 LANE ROADWAY APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN FRONT DRIVER AIRBAG AND 2 SIDE AIRBAGS (FRONT AND REAR) DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CAR CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT IN THE INTERSECTION. STUNNED I THOUGHT I HAD HIT SOMEONE. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE THE CA
- • I suddenly have a warning appear on my start menu including warning lights. Upon starting, The message states “ RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION! Fault in passenger-restraint system affecting airbag, belt tensioner or belt-force limiter. Continue to wear seatbelt. Have system checked by nearest Mini Cen
“I WAS ON A CITY STREET GOING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN A PICKUP TRUCK IN THE LANE TO MY RIGHT TRIED TO TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY I WAS APPROACHING TO MY LEFT- HIS CAR HIT MINE AND MY CAR ROLLED OVER ONTO THE ROOF AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
4 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 MINI COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY HIS WIFE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHILE PARKED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S LOT WHERE IT W
- • ON FEBRUARY 8, 2021 9:00AM DROVE MINI APPROXIMATELY 24 MILES, RETURNED HOME. PARKED CAR, TURNED OFF ENGINE, WENT INTO HOUSE AND LESS THAN 3 MINUTES LATER, NEIGHBOR SAYS MY ENGINE IS SMOKING FROM UNDER HOOD. WITHIN SECONDS IT WENT FROM HEAVY, WHITE SMOKE TO FIRE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AND ENGULFED F
- • The contact's daughter owns a 2016 Mini Cooper S Countryman. The contact stated that his daughter was informed by an independent mechanic that the vehicle could be started without the ignition key. The contact stated that his daughter tested the vehicle while the keys remained in the residence with
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 MINI COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY HIS WIFE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHILE PARKED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S LOT WHERE IT W”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
4 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 MINI COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY HIS WIFE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHILE PARKED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S LOT WHERE IT W
- • ON MARCH 29,2018 MY DAUGHTER PARKED HER 2016 MINI COUNTRYMAN IN MY DRIVEWAY AND CAME IN TO VISIT. 10 MINUTES LATER MY WIFE WENT OUTSIDE AND SAW THE MINI ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ON FIRE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED, THE MINI AND MY 2 CARS WERE ON FIRE. ALL 3 WERE TOTALED, MY DRI
- • OUR CAR WAS PARKED FOR APPROX. 10 MINUTES. THE CAR WAS OFF AND THE KEY WAS WITH MY WIFE. NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR, NOR WAS IT IN OPERATION ON ANY LEVEL. NO FLAMMABLE ITEMS WERE WITHIN THE CAR AND THE CAR WAS NOT PARKED ON ANYTHING FLAMMABLE. MY WIFE ALSO DOES NOT SMOKE. THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE NEAR THE
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 MINI COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY HIS WIFE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHILE PARKED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S LOT WHERE IT W”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
3 complaints- • I WAS ON A CITY STREET GOING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN A PICKUP TRUCK IN THE LANE TO MY RIGHT TRIED TO TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY I WAS APPROACHING TO MY LEFT- HIS CAR HIT MINE AND MY CAR ROLLED OVER ONTO THE ROOF AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.
- • WHILE DRIVING HOME, ON HIGHWAY, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I HAD THE REAR SUNROOF EXPLODE. HEARD A SINGLE CRACK, THEN ~30 SECONDS LATER, SUNROOF EXPLODED. LARGER PIECES OF GLASS CAUGHT BY SUN NET, HOWEVER, FINE PARTICLES OF GLASS NOW COVER REAR SEAT. NO KNOWN PRIOR DAMAGE.
- • This complaint concerns my 2016 Mini Cooper Countryman S, All-Wheel Drive. About four months ago, I began experiencing wobbling and noise when making turns at low speed. I took the vehicle to multiple repair shops for diagnosis. The first shop recommended replacing the clutch pack assembly ($2,626
“I WAS ON A CITY STREET GOING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN A PICKUP TRUCK IN THE LANE TO MY RIGHT TRIED TO TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY I WAS APPROACHING TO MY LEFT- HIS CAR HIT MINE AND MY CAR ROLLED OVER ONTO THE ROOF AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
2 complaints- • ON FEBRUARY 8, 2021 9:00AM DROVE MINI APPROXIMATELY 24 MILES, RETURNED HOME. PARKED CAR, TURNED OFF ENGINE, WENT INTO HOUSE AND LESS THAN 3 MINUTES LATER, NEIGHBOR SAYS MY ENGINE IS SMOKING FROM UNDER HOOD. WITHIN SECONDS IT WENT FROM HEAVY, WHITE SMOKE TO FIRE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AND ENGULFED F
“ON FEBRUARY 8, 2021 9:00AM DROVE MINI APPROXIMATELY 24 MILES, RETURNED HOME. PARKED CAR, TURNED OFF ENGINE, WENT INTO HOUSE AND LESS THAN 3 MINUTES LATER, NEIGHBOR SAYS MY ENGINE IS SMOKING FROM UNDER HOOD. WITHIN SECONDS IT WENT FROM HEAVY, WHITE SMOKE TO FIRE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AND ENGULFED F”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 24 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: I WAS ON A CITY STREET GOING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN A PICKUP TRUCK IN THE LANE TO MY RIGHT TRIED TO TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY I WAS APPROACHING TO MY LEFT- HIS CAR HIT MINE AND MY CAR ROLLED OVER ONTO THE ROOF AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 MINI COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY HIS WIFE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHILE PARKED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S LOT WHERE IT W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 MINI COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY HIS WIFE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHILE PARKED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S LOT WHERE IT W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: I WAS ON A CITY STREET GOING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN A PICKUP TRUCK IN THE LANE TO MY RIGHT TRIED TO TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY I WAS APPROACHING TO MY LEFT- HIS CAR HIT MINE AND MY CAR ROLLED OVER ONTO THE ROOF AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Mini COUNTRYMAN — Year Comparison
How does 2016 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 24
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 7
- Crash reports
- 2
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2016 Mini COUNTRYMAN