MINI reliability - how does it compare?
 

Because existing sources of auto reliability information left much to be desired, in late 2005 I started conducting my own reliability research at TrueDelta.com. TrueDelta reports absolute stats like "trips to the shop" that make the differences between cars much clearer. Results are updated four times a year, so it's possible to provide reliability information on new models quickly. Also, any significant changes in a model's reliability become apparent quickly.

There aren't enough owners signed up yet to include any model year in the main survey. But the 2005 is 3/4 of the way, and most other years are about half way. So not too far to go.

Participants simply report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, panel members receive full access to the results for free.

For the details, and to help get your year of the MINI included:

Vehicle reliability research

The 2003, 2005, and 2008 are now all just a few cars short of the minimum. I frequently get emails from people asking if we have reliability stats for the MINI. I'd really like to be able to help them, so hopefully we'll get some results for the MINI soon.

We have results for the MINI based on owner experiences through June 2009. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 120

2008: 83

2005: 147

In all three cases the sample sizes are very small, so these results are asterisked and only visible to members on the site itself. The actual repair frequency for the 2008 and 2009 is probably in between those two results, around 100.

Though imprecise, these results do indicate a worse than average repair frequency.

A big thanks to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

MINI Cooper reliability comparisons

188 MINI owners now signed up. A good start, but more are needed to provide precise results for all model years.

To help get your year fully included:

Car reliability research

We have results for the MINI based on owner experiences through September 30, 2009. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 86

2008: 120

2005: 136

All are worse than average. Small sample sizes for the 2005 and 2008.

A big thanks, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in February and May. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

MINI Cooper reliability comparisons

We have results for the MINI based on owner experiences through December 31, 2009. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 68, average

2008: 97, worse than average

2006: 141, worse than average

2005: 105, about average

Small sample sizes for all but the 2009.

A big thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May and August. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

MINI Cooper reliability comparisons

Just enhanced the related repair history survey so that it can (optionally) be used as a personal car maintenance record.

As always, more participants would be helpful. Updated Car Reliability Survey results in May, with a preview for participants next month.

Car reliability research

We have results for the MINI based on owner experiences through March 31, 2010. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 77, average

2008: 96, worse than average

2006: 118, worse than average

2005: 94, about average

2003: 44, better than average but very small sample size.

Small sample sizes for all but the 2009.

A big thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

MINI Cooper reliability comparisons

We have updated results for the MINI based on owner experiences through June 30, 2010.

Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the more recent months until the summer or even fall of next year.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 64, about average

2008: 81, about average

2007: 106, worse than average

2006: 100, worse than average

2005: 128, worse than average

2003: 26, better than average but very small sample size and the results for other years strongly suggest that this one is not accurate

Small sample sizes for all but the 2009, though the 2006 and 2007 are close to the minimum for full results.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:

MINI Cooper reliability comparisons

Starting this month we have a new question to measure, as objectively as possible, the severity of a problem. Many people have been asking for reliability stats that weight problems by how severe they are, and once we have enough responses with the revised survey we'll start providing this.

Also, updated reliability stats this month.

As always, the more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone.

Car reliability research

We have updated results for the MINI based on owner experiences through September 30, 2010. Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the months since April until the summer or even fall of next year.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2010: 41, about average

2009: 64, about average

2008: 73, about average

2007: 85, about average

2006: 77, about average

2005: 121, worse than average

2003: 26, better than average but very small sample size and the results for other years strongly suggest that this one is not accurate

Small sample sizes for all but the 2005, 2005, and 2009.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in February and May. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:

MINI Cooper reliability ratings and comparisons

We have updated results for the MINI based on owner experiences through December 31, 2010. Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the months since April until the summer or even fall of this year.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2010: 82, worse than average

2009: 69, about average

2008: 101, worse than average

2007: 62, about average (small sample size, only hatch and Clubman)

2006: 64, about average

2005: 125, worse than average

2003: 65, better than average but very small sample size and the results for other years suggest that this one is not accurate

The repair frequencies for the 2008 and 2010 were bumped by multiple reports of heat damage to the hood scoop on the S. Also timing chain tensioners causing a cold start rattle and power windows on the 2008.

There's more variation from year to year than we're used to seeing, probably because the samples sizes are all either small or just above the minimum.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May and August. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:

MINI Cooper reliability ratings and comparisons

We have updated results for the MINI based on owner experiences through March 31, 2011.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2010: 54, about average

2009: 79, about average

2008: 106, worse than average

2007: 56, about average (small sample size, only hatch and Clubman)

2006: 48, better than average

2005: 113, about average

2003: 81, about average, very small sample size

The repair frequencies for the 2008 and 2010 were bumped by multiple reports of heat damage to the hood scoop on the S. Also timing chain tensioners causing a cold start rattle and power windows on the 2008.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

MINI Cooper reliability ratings and comparisons

We have updated car relliability stats for the MINI based on owner experiences through June 30, 2011.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2011: 44, about average, small sample size

2010: 56, about average

2009: 80, about average

2008: 103, worse than average

2007: 65, about average (small sample size, only hatch and Clubman)

2006: 65, about average

2005: 130, worse than average

2003: 108, about average, very small sample size

The repair frequencies for the 2008 and 2010 were bumped by multiple reports of heat damage to the hood scoop on the S. Also timing chain tensioners causing a cold start rattle and power windows on the 2008.

We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

MINI Cooper reliability ratings and comparisons

We have updated our reliability stats for the MINI based on owner experiences through September 30, 2011.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2011: 63, about average, small sample size

2010: 56, about average

2009: 87, about average

2008: 100, worse than average

2007: 114, worse than average (only hatch and Clubman)

2006: 54, better than average

2005: 125, worse than average

2003: 119, about average, very small sample size

The repair frequencies for the 2008 and 2010 were bumped by multiple reports of heat damage to the hood scoop on the S. Also timing chain tensioners causing a cold start rattle and power windows on the 2008.

Thank you, once again, everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates later this month and in May. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

MINI Cooper reliability ratings and comparisons

We have updated our reliability stats for the MINI based on owner experiences through September 30, 2012.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2012: 16, better than average, small sample size

2011: 66, worse than average

2010: 53, about average

2009: 60, about average

2008 (hatch and Clubman): 74, worse than average

2007 (hatch and Clubman): 81, worse than average

2006: 51, about average

2005: 104, worse than average

2003: 72, about average, very small sample size

We'll have further updates in February and May. We'd love to provide more precise stats, cover all model years, and provide separate stats for the S--just a matter of getting more owners involved!

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

MINI Cooper reliability ratings and comparisons

We have updated our reliability stats for the MINI based on owner experiences through December 31, 2012.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2012: 15, low

2011: 51, moderate

2010: 29, low

2009: 52, moderate

2008 (hatch and Clubman): 56, moderate

2007 (hatch and Clubman): 48, moderate

2006: 63, moderate

2005: 102, high

2003: 71, low, very small sample size

We'll have further updates in May and August. We'd love to provide more precise stats, cover all model years, and provide separate stats for the S--just a matter of getting more owners involved.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:

MINI Cooper reliability ratings and comparisons

We've updated our reliability stats for the Cooper to include owner experiences through March 31, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2012 Cooper: 14, low
2011 Cooper: 64, high
2010 Cooper: 38, moderate
2009 Cooper: 61, moderate
2008 Cooper Hatchback and Clubman: 70, moderate
2007 Cooper Hatchback and Clubman: 48, moderate, small sample size
2006 Cooper: 54, moderate
2005 Cooper: 96, high
2004 Cooper: 67, moderate, very small sample size
2003 Cooper: 94, moderate, very small sample size

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:

2009 Cooper: 53, < 1

We'll have further updates in August and in November.

For the details, including the descriptions of reported repairs, and to sign up to help improve this information:

MINI Cooper reliability ratings and comparisons

We've updated our reliability stats for standard-sized MINIs to include owner experiences through June 30, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2013 Cooper: 20, low, small sample size
2012 Cooper: 39, moderate
2011 Cooper: 75, high. Common problem with the thermostat and temperature sensor.
2010 Cooper: 34, low
2009 Cooper: 63, moderate
2008 Cooper Hatchback and Clubman: 68, moderate
2007 Cooper Hatchback and Clubman: 44, low, small sample size
2006 Cooper: 43, low
2005 Cooper: 78, moderate
2004 Cooper: 122, high, very small sample size
2003 Cooper: 81, moderate, small sample size

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:

2011 Cooper: 52, 8
2009 Cooper: 51, < 1
2006 Cooper: 69, < 1

We'll have further updates in November and February.

To view competitors' scores and descriptions of reported repairs, and to sign up to help:

MINI Cooper reliability ratings and comparisons

We've updated our reliability stats for the standard Minis to include owner experiences through September 30, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2013: 8, low
2012: 43, moderate
2011: 64, moderate
2010: 42, moderate
2009: 66, moderate
2008 Hatchback and Clubman: 69, moderate
2007 Hatchback and Clubman: 49, low, small sample size
2006: 51, low
2005: 95, moderate
2004: 105, high, very small sample size
2003: 62, low

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:

2011: 52, 4
2009: 50, < 1
2006: 77, 4

We'll have further updates later this month and in May. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mini reliability ratings and comparisons

We've updated our reliability stats for the standard-sized Mini to include owner experiences through December 31, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2013 Mini: 5, low
2012 Mini: 55, high
2011 Mini: 57, moderate
2010 Mini: 48, moderate
2009 Mini: 71, high
2008 Mini Hatchback and Clubman: 77, high
2007 Mini Hatchback and Clubman: 64, moderate, small sample size
2006 Mini: 58, moderate
2005 Mini: 87, moderate
2004 Mini: 94, moderate, very small sample size
2003 Mini: 74, moderate

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:

2011 Mini: 53, < 1
2010 Mini: 61, < 1
2009 Mini: 50, < 1

We'll have further updates in May and in August. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

To see the repairs behind these stats, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mini Mini reliability ratings and comparisons

Our reliability stats for the standard-sized Coopers now include owner experiences through March 31, 2014, making them nearly a year ahead of other sources.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2013 Cooper: 7, low
2012 Cooper: 75, high
2011 Cooper: 44, moderate
2010 Cooper: 38, low
2009 Cooper: 48, moderate
2008 Cooper Hatchback and Clubman: 38, low
2007 Cooper Hatchback and Clubman: 79, moderate, small sample size
2006 Cooper: 76, moderate
2005 Cooper: 56, low
2004 Cooper: 111, high, very small sample size
2003 Cooper: 67, low

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:

2010 Cooper: 62, < 1
2009 Cooper: 76, < 1

Thank you, once again, everyone who has been helping. Next update in August.

For a deeper dive, including the stats for other cars and repair descriptions, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mini Cooper reliability ratings and comparisons

We've updated our reliability stats for the standard-sized Minis to include owner experiences through June 30, 2014.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2013 Minis: 6, low
2012 Minis: 72, high
2011 Minis: 37, moderate
2010 Minis: 58, moderate
2009 Minis: 47, moderate
2008 Minis: 52, moderate
2007 Minis: 77, moderate, small sample size
2006 Minis: 80, moderate
2005 Minis: 65, moderate
2004 Minis: 83, moderate, very small sample size
2003 Minis: 82, moderate

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:

2013 Minis: 93, < 1
2011 Minis: 71, 4
2010 Minis: 52, < 1
2009 Minis: 75, < 1

Next updates in November and in February. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

For repair descriptions, the stats of other cars, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mini reliability ratings and comparisons

We've updated our reliability stats for the standard-sized MINIs to include owner experiences through September 30, 2014.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2013 MINI: 14, low
2012 MINI: 78, high
2011 MINI: 44, moderate
2010 MINI: 54, moderate
2009 MINI: 61, moderate
2008 MINI: 71, moderate
2007 MINI: 95, high, small sample size
2006 MINI: 79, moderate
2005 MINI: 59, low
2004 MINI: 81, moderate, very small sample size
2003 MINI: 73, low

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:

2013 MINI: 85, < 1
2011 MINI: 63, 4
2010 MINI: 58, < 1
2009 MINI: 62, < 1

To view the repairs behind these numbers, check the stats for other cars, and sign up to help improve this information (next update in February):

MINI reliability ratings and comparisons

We've updated our reliability stats for the Hardtop and other standard-sized Minis (combined in the stats below) to include owner experiences through the end of 2015, about eight months ahead of other sources. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year--lower is better:

2014-2015 Mini: 41, moderate
2013 Mini: 38, moderate
2012 Mini: 41, moderate
2011 Mini: 60, moderate
2010 Mini: 67, moderate
2009 Mini: 50, moderate
2008 Mini: 57, moderate
2007 Mini: 102, high, small sample size
2006 Mini: 66, moderate
2005 Mini: 76, moderate
2004 Mini: 120, high, very small sample size
2003 Mini: 98, moderate, small sample size

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:

2013 Mini: 67, 2
2009 Mini: 60, 4

We'll have further updates in May and in August. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

For the repairs behind these stats, reliability information on other models, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mini reliability ratings and comparisons