Short answer
Among MINI Cooper model years through 2024, 2006 and 2013 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2014 has the most (8). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
MINI Cooper: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 24 (2002–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 37
- Fewest recalls
- 2006 and 2013 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2014 (8)
- Most recalled system
- Electrical system (19)
MINI Cooper Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | Not rated | Seat belts |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 4 | Not rated | Service brakes, hydraulic, Electronic stability control (esc), Seat belts |
| 2024 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2023 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2022 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2021 | 4 | Not rated | Electrical system, Air bags, Seat belts |
| 2020 | 4 | Not rated | Electrical system, Air bags, Structure |
| 2019 | 2 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Steering |
| 2017 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Exterior lighting, Seat belts |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 stars | Air bags, Exterior lighting, Seat belts |
| 2015 | 6 | 4 stars | Seats, Air bags, Equipment |
| 2014 | 8 | 4 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2013 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2012 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2011 | 4 | Not rated | Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2010 | 4 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2009 | 4 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Tires |
| 2008 | 5 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2007 | 6 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2006 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2005 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Steering |
| 2004 | 2 | Not rated | Steering, Tires |
| 2003 | 2 | Not rated | Steering, Suspension |
| 2002 | 3 | Not rated | Equipment, Power train, Steering |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20261 recall
- 20254 recalls
- 20242 recalls
- 20232 recalls
- 20222 recalls
- 20214 recalls
- 20204 recalls
- 20192 recalls
- 20173 recalls
- 20164 recalls
- 20156 recalls
- 20148 recalls
- 20131 recall
- 20122 recalls
- 20114 recalls
- 20104 recalls
- 20094 recalls
- 20085 recalls
- 20076 recalls
- 20061 recall
- 20052 recalls
- 20042 recalls
- 20032 recalls
- 20023 recalls
MINI Cooper: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in MINI Cooper recalls are electrical system (19), engine and engine cooling (14), air bags (12), steering (6) and equipment (5). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 3 of these 24 model years. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: MINI Cooper Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the MINI Cooper?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2006 and 2013 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which MINI Cooper model years have the most recalls?
2014 has the most, with 8 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Cooper", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy