AI Damage2019 Mini Cooper: common problems
Owners of the 2019 Mini Cooper filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and electrical system. The maker issued 71 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 10
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 71
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 40% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 20% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 20% of all complaints
- 4 Electronic stability control 20% of all complaints
- 5 Engine 10% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 10% of all complaints
- Steering: 4 complaints (40% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (20% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 26.
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (20% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Electronic stability control: 2 complaints (20% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Engine: 1 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.5 L · petrol · turbo · 3 cyl
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 10 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 26 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 0 | 0 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
my vehicle only has 23000 how is it that vehicle with low miles and 5 yrs old and there telling me that engine mounts are cracked what mini cooper said was that the reason why is because there made out of plastic . how can this be legal what holds the engine in place made from plastic ?
Car sent a message about vehicle stabilization initiation in the middle of the road. I could barely turn the steering wheel and change the lane. Authorized dealer service center tells me it’s a click and drive wiring malfunction issue. I was on the way to the airport via toll road and highway.
The incident occurred on December 31, 2022. I drove my car to a residential location in Seattle, parked and locked the vehicle. When I returned to my car and started it up to move it, I realized I had no control of the car because the steering wheel was spinning uncontrollably.
Center console phone charger Center console is and enclosed component and when a cell phone is placed in the console and used for Bluetooth navigation and or phone calls it shuts down the system.
(Both the connector and pig tail showed signs of melted plastic/fire hazard). After further investigation, I realized this is not an isolated incident as I found multiple threads/posts on the Mini Cooper (F56) Internet forums, in which multiple owners complained of the same issue (many posting pictures as I have),…
This is second incident that occurred with brand new mini cooper 2019 with same exact issue that again almost caused a near fatal accident. While driving on highway, at highway speed the car precipitously malfunctioned and car locked up and would allow me to maintain speed- nor accelerate.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,486 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 29% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Cooper has 4 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 10, above average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electronic stability control. ABS/ESC sensors, steering angle, codes after suspension repair.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Once the Telematics Module (TCB2) enters sleep mode, a MINI Data Services trigger for Remote…
Once the Telematics Module (TCB2) enters sleep mode, a MINI Data Services trigger for Remote Services(remote engine start, lock/unlock/climate conditioning) will not be able to reactivate the TCB2. Due to this issue…
- EVAP PURGE (VENT) VALVE EXT LTD WTY (ELW) 15 YRS/150,000 MLS
- During inspection and/or diagnosis there is noticeable dirt/grease buildup on the axles near the inner…
During inspection and/or diagnosis there is noticeable dirt/grease buildup on the axles near the inner and/or outer CV boots.
- 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
As a result, the demand on the batteries has increased. Breakdowns due to an empty battery or problems in the vehicles electrical system can have various causes, most of which are not due to the battery itself. For…
- ?The panoramic roof sunblind does not close, or jams while closing
- ?BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop
REPLACE CHARGE AIR LINE.
- Upon opening and closing the tailgate, a creaking/groaning sound can be heard from tailgate actuator
- The 3G network in the US has been shut down
This means that only the 4G network will be available. In the 4G network, voice calls will be transferred via Voice over LTE (VoLTE) function. For this purpose, the SIM card must perform an IMS registration in the…
- The buttons on the gear selector switch (GWS) do not work, or the function indicator lighting has failed
- Oscillations in the electric drive can occur
As a result, the 12 V positive battery cable may rub against the battery box cover.
- Ambient lighting changes color after the vehicle goes to sleep
NHTSA lists 71 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Mini Cooper?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 10. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (20%), A/C or heater (10%), infotainment or screen glitches (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 Mini Cooper?
NHTSA lists 71 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2019 Mini Cooper from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2019 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.