Rear bumper brake & tail lights operate intermittently. Uninstalling and reinstalling bumper light assembly and bulbs may temporarily solve the issue. Light assembly is undamaged and wiring harness connector is clean. Power and ground are tested ok. Vehicle has 50,000 miles and is parked in a covered area. Never driven in snow or salted roads.
The worst 2016 MINI Clubman problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Brakes4
- Electrical4
- Engine4
- Lights4
- Tires2
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes4
- Electrical4
- Engine4
- Lights4
- Tires2
- Airbags1
- Body1
- Fuel system1
- Seat belts1
- Transmission1
Recalls 1
Air bags: side/window
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 MINI Clubman vehicles manufactured August 19, 2015, through July 14, 2016. The side curtain air bags for the front seat occupants may deploy in the intended positions in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
- Risk
- If a side curtain air bag does not inflate as intended in the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury to the front seat occupants.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the driver and passenger side curtain air bag covers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin September 12, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
Recall number 16V553000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2016 MINI Clubman 23
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- The automatic transmission limited warranty for the vehicle Selector Lever Magnetic Shift Interlock...
- For the eligible vehicles listed above, the limited warranty for the vehicle’s Selector Lever Magnetic...
- Customer complains of a musty odor or damp front footwell carpet.
- Cavity protection applied to underside of the hood is leaking out onto the wheel arch trim and grille.
- MINI electrical systems have continued to develop over the past few years
- Engine stalls after starting or will not start.
- MINI Engine oil: repair order invoicing procedure
- Engine power reduction with "clutch damaged"" faults stored
- Mini parts logistics TEC 26 turbo charger return
- Mini parts logistics TEC 25 wishbone return
What 2016 MINI Clubman owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I have 2016 Mini Clubman S with 109,000 miles on it , I got a check engine light with a Code U019D. I went to dealer to check and was told the radiator would need to be replaced at a cost of $ 3,700 dollars. After researching it is a common issue due to defect in materials, there was an extended warranty offered by bmw up 15 years or 150,000 miles to cover this defect. I was told that since I am in Florida it doesn't cover it and I believe this is wrong. If there is defect in materials and it is covered for some, why not all. Th ecompany has already stated it is a defect in materials, see below. SIM 13 01 19 Lin Bus Communication Fault for Enviromental Air Catalyst (EAC)Sensor FC1B8302. It States that the chemical compositon of the fan shroud contaminates the EAC sensor. Since this is a know defect from manufacturer I believe they should be replacing the defective material under warranty terms .
I purchased a Septor 4xs tire from Walmart in cypress Texas, I had a tire blowout 1 hour later at a high rate of speed. the Auto manager Santiago Quevedo at Walmart stated this is a well-known defect with this tire and had another blow out with this tire.
On January 7, 2025, the vehicle started to suddenly brake and pull to the right side of the road when going above 40 mph for less than 2 seconds, and then I regained control. When on the left lane of the highway, the sudden movement was so pronounced that it made the car invade the right lane. This happened over 10 times on a single trip. Since this happened, the vehicle was stopped, and the front suspension was inspected. There was a front ball joint damaged. It was replaced, thinking this was the problem. The vehicle was used for the following months. However, when driving it on the highway, it kept doing the same thing. On April 15, 2025 the vehicle was being driven at about 25 mph when the rear left brake suddenly locked up without any brake, traction control, or ABS warning lights. The vehicle was towed home. When trying to move the vehicle, it was noticed that the front right and rear left brake calipers were locked up. Still no warning lights.
Transmission not reporting vehicle in park. Taken to mechanic and ran diagnostics. They said this is a safety issue. Needs shifter repair.
The contact owns a 2016 Mini Cooper S Clubman. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the driver's seat belt was inoperable. The contact stated that the seat belt failed to function properly, and the seat belt assembly failed to latch securely. An independent mechanic arrived at the residence and diagnosed the vehicle. The contact was informed that the seat belt assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the left and right turn signals were inoperable. The contact was made aware by another driver that four out of the five rear brake lights were inoperable. The right and left turn signal malfunction and the rear brake light warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the place of residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
I am writing to formally express my concerns regarding a 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman S that I purchased in August of the previous year, with 64,000 miles on the odometer. Within just two months of ownership, the vehicle began to exhibit serious mechanical failures. Initially, the water pump failed and had to be replaced. Shortly thereafter, the air conditioning system on the left side malfunctioned. Most alarmingly, the engine suddenly stopped and began to overheat while on the road, necessitating an emergency stop at a nearby mechanic's workshop. The diagnosis revealed a catastrophic engine block failure, with a crack that caused the antifreeze, oil, and possibly fuel to mix—an issue that could potentially lead to a vehicle fire. This vehicle is primarily driven by my wife, who frequently transports our [XXX] son, who is [XXX]. The potential risks had this occurred on a highway are unimaginable and could have led to fatal consequences. Upon discovering these issues, I immediately contacted Mini to inform them of the defect and requested a comprehensive diagnostic examination. I emphasized the possibility that this could be a production line issue, which might affect other vehicles and thereby pose a significant risk to other families. Regrettably, the response I received was dismissive; I was informed that nothing could be done, and my request for a vehicle inspection was outright denied. Given the severity of these issues and the potential risk to human life, I urge your immediate intervention. It is imperative that this matter be revisited and that a thorough investigation into this potential production defect be conducted. Ensuring the safety of all consumers must be a priority, and I respectfully request that my vehicle be inspected at the earliest to prevent any potential future tragedies. Please advise on how we might proceed in this matter. I look forward to your prompt response. Yours sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
This vehicle has the same environmental air catalyst sensor as in the recall SIM 01 05 20 from the NTHSA however the engine number is different and isn't therefore covered. The failure started about 3 months ago and I've been back and forth with Mini about it. The vehicle has <75k miles. It's available to be inspected. It has been confirmed by a dealer.
My vehicle has this known problem by BMW and is not covered. Should be recalled! SIM 13 01 19 LIN BUS COMMUNICATION FAULT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AIR CATALYST (EAC) SENSOR FC1B8302 The chemical composition of the fan shroud contaminates the EAC sensor. There is a loss of LIN-Bus communication (signal) from the EAC Sensor that is permanently mounted on the engine radiator due to corrosion that develops over time. CORRECTION Replace the radiator with EAC sensor and, if necessary, replace the fan shroud.
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Questions about the 2016 MINI Clubman
Is the 2016 MINI Clubman reliable?
Owners have filed 18 complaints about the 2016 MINI Clubman, 3.0 times a typical Clubman model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 MINI Clubman?
Brakes, with 4 complaints. Next is electrical (4).
How many recalls does the 2016 MINI Clubman have?
1 recall, covering air bags.
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