MINI Cooper
Every model year 2016–2027: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
Every MINI Cooper model year
Source: NHTSA · EPA · one row per year| Year | Powertrains | Safety | Recalls | Complaints | Crash | Best efficiency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Gas | A* | 0 | 0 | — | 31 mpg | |
| 2026 | Gas | A | 1 | 3 | — | 32 mpg | |
| 2025 | Gas | C | 4 | 6 | — | 32 mpg | |
| 2024 | Electric Gas | C | 2 | 2 | ★★★★☆ | 114 mi | |
| 2023 | Electric Gas | C | 2 | 12 | ★★★★☆ | 114 mi | |
| 2022 | Electric Gas | C | 2 | 9 | — | 114 mi | |
| 2021 | Electric Gas | D | 4 | 7 | ★★★★☆ | 110 mi | |
| 2020 | Electric Gas | D | 4 | 12 | — | 110 mi | |
| 2019 | Gas | B | 2 | 17 | — | 32 mpg | |
| 2018 | Gas | A | 0 | 8 | — | 32 mpg | |
| 2017 | Gas | B | 3 | 34 | — | 32 mpg | |
| 2016 | Gas | C | 4 | 51 | ★★★★☆ | 32 mpg |
Which model year the record favours
Source: recalls and complaints per year on the roadOn the filed record so far, the 2018 is the cleanest Cooper year we hold, and the 2021 the one to check hardest.
Both figures are divided by the number of years the car has been on sale, because otherwise the oldest year on the page loses every time simply for having been around longer. The current model year and any year under three on the road are left out: their records are not finished.
What changed year to year
Source: computed from the filed record- 2027: best combined mpg 32 → 31; 6 → 5 EPA configurations
- 2026: 7 → 6 EPA configurations
- 2025: dropped electric; 13 → 7 EPA configurations
- 2022: best combined mpg 31 → 32; best range 110 → 114 mi
- 2021: 7 → 13 EPA configurations
- 2020: added electric; best combined mpg 32 → 31; 12 → 7 EPA configurations
| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Cooper vs Nissan Kicks · Compact Hatchback | Kicks +4.3 | |
| 2026 Cooper vs Hyundai Ioniq 5 · Compact Hatchback | Ioniq 5 +30.8 | |
| 2026 Cooper vs Nissan Leaf · Compact Hatchback | Leaf +32 | |
| 2026 Cooper vs BMW i4 · Compact Hatchback | Cooper +7.3 | |
| 2026 Cooper vs Kia EV6 · Compact Hatchback | EV6 +39.1 | |
| 2026 Cooper vs Nissan Ariya · Compact SUV | Ariya +34.5 | |
| 2022 Cooper vs Nissan Rogue Sport · Compact Hatchback | Cooper +14.5 |
Common questions about the MINI Cooper
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich MINI Cooper year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2018 Cooper comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade A (100/100), 0 recalls and 8 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What MINI Cooper years should I avoid?
2020, 2021 have the weakest recall records in this range. The year pages list every campaign, its severity and whether a repair exists yet. Every Cooper model year ranked, with the reasons.
How many recalls does the MINI Cooper have?
Across model years 2016–2027, NHTSA has posted 28 recall campaigns for the MINI Cooper. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.