There are 4 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 2017 MINI Cooperin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2017 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while that vehicle was parked, the vehicle was turned on that there was a message on the instrument panel stating that there was a taillight malfunction. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the driver’s side rear taillight had not illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver’s side taillight housing and connector needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired, and the VIN was not included in a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
1. (Lighting) The front lights of the car kept turning off and on. We would always go to the repair shop every time the lights began to malfunction. (Engine) the oil was sticky which was not normal and the water entered inside. (Brakes) When you turned on the car, noises came from the brakes which were concerning and risky to drive in. 2. This car was risky to drive due to the problems with the oil and brakes. 3. Yes, this problem has already been confirmed by a dealer. 4. No. 5. No.
I OWN A 2017 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN THAT WAS RECALLED FOR AN UNSAFE BRAKE LIGHT CONDITION. THERE WERE 4 FUNCTIONAL BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE REAR BUMPER. AFTER MY CAR WAS "FIXED", I ONLY HAVE 2 FUNCTIONAL BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE REAR BUMPER. I FAIL TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS APPROVED "FIX" MADE MY CAR SAFER. THREE WEEKS AFTER THE "FIX" WAS COMPLETED, I WAS REAR ENDED WHILE TURNING ONTO MY STREET. I FEEL THAT THE NHTSA APPROVED A "FIX" FOR A CONDITION THAT MADE MY CAR LESS SAFE. HOW COULD YOU ALLOW MINI TO PERMANENTLY DISABLE BRAKE LIGHTS AS A FIX?
I HAVE ONLY TWO WEEKS WITH MY NEW CAR, AND ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! HOWEVER, THERE APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS. ON TWO OCCASIONS, TRUCKS HAVE RODE UP ON MY TAIL AND HAD TO ALMOST SLAM THEIR BRAKES BEFORE WINDING UP INSIDE THE TRUNK/BOOT. AT THE TIME, I JUST THOUGHT THESE WERE INATTENTIVE DRIVERS. HOWEVER, I HAD READ ON A FORUM SOMEONE ELSE TOO POINTED OUT A SIMILAR INSTANCE. IF ONE LOOKS AT THE BACK OF THE CLUBMAN, THERE ARE LARGE RED LIGHTS ON THE REAR OF THE BARN DOORS. THIS IS WHAT APPEARS TO BE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE 'FOCAL POINT' THAT THE DRIVERS BEHIND YOU ARE WATCHING. HOWEVER, THESE ARE NOT THE BRAKE LIGHTS; THEY ARE MERELY THE RUNNING LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. THEREFORE, THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAS THEIR FOCAL POINT ON WHAT THEY THINK ARE YOUR BRAKE LIGHTS AND DON'T SEE THE TWO LITTLE LIGHTS IN THE BOTTOM REAR OF THE BUMPER UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. WORSE IS WITH TRUCKS, SUV, AND SEMIS WHERE THEY DON'T SEE THEM AT ALL - BECAUSE THEY ARE BELOW THEIR FIELD OF VISION. I TOO HAVE READ SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT INDICATING THE BRAKE LIGHTS CAN'T BE EXCLUSIVE TO THE OPENING REAR DOORS, HENCE NOT BEING THE BRAKE LIGHTS. MY PROPOSAL WOULD BE FOR BMW/MINI TO EITHER RE-CODE, CHANGE THE SOFTWARE, OR RE-WIRE TO MAKE THESE LIGHTS THAT ARE PRESENTLY THE TURN SIGNAL ALSO FUNCTION AS BRAKE LIGHTS, IN ADDITION TO THE TWO IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BUMPER. PLEASE ADOPT A SIMPLE FIX, WHEREAS WE CAN KEEP MOTORING AND ENJOYING OUR NEW CLUBMAN'S; PLEASE TOO UNDERSTAND BMW/MINI, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS CAR AND I AM NOT TRYING TO COMPLAIN OR FIND FAULT. THE DESIGN IS EXCEPTIONAL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THIS SAFETY CONCERN THAT COULD CAUSE MANY UNNECESSARY REAR END COLLISIONS, INJURIES, AND OR DEATHS. PLEASE JUST ADOPT A SIMPLE FIX, WHEREAS WE CAN KEEP MOTORING AND ENJOYING OUR NEW CLUBMAN'S.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026