2017 Mini Clubman problems
The Mini Clubman is a subcompact executive car engineered and manufactured by German automaker BMW and sold under the Mini marque. The first-generation Clubman was introduced in 2007, as a variant of the Mini Hatch (Hardtop in the US). A commercial version called Clubvan was added to the range in 2012. The current second-generation model has been in production since 2015 and available with front- and all-wheel drive.
History
The use of the name "Clubman" is a departure from Mini tradition. "Clubman" was originally the name given to the 1970s facelift of the classic Mini, which mostly resulted in a squared-off front end, whereas the classic Mini estates had traditionally been named "Traveller" or "Countryman". However, BMW did not initially purchase the rights to use those names, and so decided to call its larger-variant "Clubman", a name which it did own rights to.
Sketches of a new estate version of the Mini were shown at the 2000 Paris Motor Show, and a rendering of the estate concept (internally named EXT), wore the Clubman name on the licence plate. The Clubman started out in development based on the first generation Mini Hatch (R50) before changing to the second gen Hatch (R56).
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Common 2017 Mini Clubman problems
Based on complaints from owners of the 2017 Mini Clubman, several common problems have been identified:
- Rough Engine Idle and Variable Valve Timing (VVT) Issues:
- Symptoms: Rough idling, increased fuel consumption, and illuminated check engine light.
- Cause: Insufficient oil maintenance leading to VVT problems.
- Solution: Start by replacing the VVT solenoid, then consider replacing the VVT actuator if the issue persists.
- Overheating Engine:
- Symptoms: Rapid overheating, signs of coolant leaks.
- Cause: Common damage to radiator supports and coolant hose due to low ground clearance.
- Solution: Check and replace damaged radiator supports and coolant hose to prevent overheating issues.
- No Rear Parking Alert:
- Symptoms: Absence of alarm sound when reversing.
- Cause: Faulty rear parking sensor.
- Solution: Install a new rear parking sensor to restore the alert system.
- AC Failure:
- Symptoms: Inoperative or slow air conditioning.
- Cause: Common AC fan wear leading to reduced cooling efficiency.
- Solution: Replace the AC fan to restore proper air conditioning functionality.
- Cracked Windscreen:
- Symptoms: Visible cracks on the windscreen.
- Cause: Prone to windscreen chips that can worsen over time.
- Solution: Seal minor chips with available kits or replace the windscreen for severe damage.
- Loss of Turbocharger Power and Engine Rumbling:
- Symptoms: Decreased turbocharger power, engine rumbling during acceleration.
- Cause: Carbon build-up affecting oil pump, pickup pipe, and turbocharger.
- Solution: Replace affected parts with modified versions to address performance issues.
- High Oil Pressure and Rumbling Engine:
- Symptoms: High oil pressure, unusual engine sounds.
- Cause: Premature wear of crankshaft bearings.
- Solution: Replace the crankshaft bearings promptly to prevent further engine damage.
These common problems with the 2017 Mini Clubman highlight issues related to engine performance, cooling systems, safety alerts, and air conditioning. Addressing these concerns promptly can help maintain the vehicle's reliability and performance over time.
Are 2017 MINI Clubmans reliable?
In the family car class, it ranked third out of 29 cars. Its confidence-inspiring reliability rating of 97.9% makes it more reliable than the latest-gen Toyota Corolla and BMW 1 Series, but less reliable than the 2017-2022 Hyundai Ioniq petrol/PHEV and first-place-holder 2011-2019 BMW 1 Series.
What is the recall on the 2017 Mini Cooper Clubman?
Summary: 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.
Why is the Mini Clubman being discontinued?
The Countryman JCW has more power in its new generation but lost a substantial amount of torque while gaining weight stunting its performance a bit. Why is MINI killing the Clubman? It's unfortunately due to sales. In a world that can't get enough of small crossovers, the wagon-like Clubman is getting squeezed out.
What is the most common problem with Mini Cooper?
Issue #1: Engine Overheating in Mini Cooper S (2007-2010)
Oil cooler leaks have also been reported on some vehicles. These problems cause the engine to gradually overheat, leading to coolant loss and severe damage if left unchecked. Head gasket failure is a common result of the engine overheating in the R56 Cooper S.
2017 Mini Clubman car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Mini Clubman problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Power train problems
- Exterior lighting problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Service brakes problems
- Engine problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2017 Mini Clubman vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2017 Mini Clubman complaints
The NHTSA has received 15 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2017 Mini Clubman.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-23
- VIN: WMWLU1C58H2
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Today I started my 2017 Mini Clubman and received a message about a transmission problem. The message showed a car icon and arrows at either end of the car pointed out. The message advised me to secure the car to prevent rolling. I confirmed that the parking brake was not inadvertently triggered and also confirmed that the parking brake is still functioning properly. The same message has appeared the next five times I started the car on a level surface.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-29
- VIN: WMWLN9C37H2
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: I went into HGreg Nissan of Buena Park/Nissan of Buena Park on [XXX] to look at a car. When I got there, I asked to see the car that they had advertised. Once I signed the necessary paperwork, purchased a bumper-to-bumper warranty as told by the salesperson. I was also told that I would receive a full tank of gas, but I did not. I took that car the Mini Cooper dealership, for a diagnostic test, and was told that there was damage to the engine. The engine light came on, so I had to leave the car at the dealership. Once I purchased the car from the dealership, me as a person who does not understand how dealership processes paperwork and have purchased cars in the past, I have never experienced such blatant disregard for honesty, who deal in deception, and have no moral ethics than with this particular dealership, just for the sale of a car. I received a phone call from a Lady by the name of Alva on 06/28/24 from HGreg Nissan of Buena Park/Nissan of Buena Park which is more than 3 months after the purchase of this vehicle, and she advised me that I needed to come in so that they could do a smog check on the vehicle, and that they let the paperwork expire. This company never processed the necessary paperwork, to the DMV so that this car could be registered to me. This company did not have a smog check done because they knew that it would not pass because the engine light came on. Since that necessary paperwork has not been filed with the DMV the lender of this vehicle is now telling me that they will increase the interest because of this problem. According to CA Law Smog Certifications are required for all sales or title transfers of gasoline-powered vehicles that are four or more years old, and this company did not provide this information to the CA Department of Motor Vehicles. This dealership knew that the engine was faulty which is why they never performed a Smog Check the engine light came on 1 week after it was purchased. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-02-06
- VIN: WMWLU1C59H2
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: Message on start and stop - “Secure vehicle with parking brake when stopped. Consult service center” service center says $2K to fix for a $an inexpensive part. Does not impact performance of car but sounds like a safety issue.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-09-20
- VIN: WMWLU5C55H2
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: It is now common knowledge that this transmission of the 3rd generation has an avoidable fault. There is a small spring in the shifter assembly that fails. It causes an error alert that car is not secure, when it actually is. The recommended repair is over $2000 at the dealer. This is a faulty part that can safety issues with people thinking their brakes are not working, when they actually are. This can lead to tragic accidents.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-03-25
- VIN: WMWLU1C36H2
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The Roll Warning light for my 2017 Clubman came on with this message: Secure vehicle with parking brake when stopped. Consult service center. The light came on Saturday evening when I got into my car to go home from a friend's house. It was parked on the side of the street. It comes on now whenever it's parked and I am turning on my emergency brake but the car has not rolled. A friend of mine has a 2017 Mini Cooper 4 door and this same light came on for her the same week mine did. I've also found others posting about it online. All 2017 mini coopers. I went to the dealer (Dreyer & Reinbold of Indianapolis) and they told me 99% of the time the gear shifter assembly would need to be replaced at a cost of $2,100 plus tax and shop supplies. This seems like a problem Mini needs to pay for.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-05-20
- VIN: WMWLN5C32H2
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2017 Mini Cooper Clubman. The contact stated that on two separate occasions, the rear passenger’s side brake light wiring harness had melted which led to a defective brake light. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the taillight was replaced. The contact stated that after the last failure the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 43,995.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-01-04
- VIN: WMWLU1C57H2
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: Warning comes on stating secure vehicle from rolling. Dealership told us a "sensor" would need to be replaced to correct the problem. It would cost 1800.00 for the part. Advised to put parking brake on when parked. This seems to be a manufacturer problem. We had this issue around 36000 miles.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-09-02
- VIN: WMWLU5C59H2
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: a broken $4 part in the shifting mechanism may cause the car to roll when in park unexpectedly. to replace the part costs ~$2000 in labor. this is a well known issue with MINI Coopers. there is a warning message about the car potentially rolling. given the cost and wide-spread nature of the issue MINI should replace at no cost.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-07-01
- VIN: WMWLU1C56H2
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: The left brake light in the bumper intermittently fails. A warning is issued in the dashboard display. Switching bulbs with the properly lighting adjoining bumper tail lamp corrects the issue temporarily. The brake light will operate properly and the dash warning will reset. At some point, the fault reoccurs.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-04-02
- VIN: WMWLN5C56H2
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The car has a warning light "secure car against rolling" at first I thought it was a reminder to set the parking brake. The next warning light was "service required" - I just bought this 2017 Mini Clubman two weeks ago so I took it to the mini dealer service center. The motor mount, gear shifter, brakes were all affected and need replacing. When I looked up the "warning light" online - there are literally forums where this specific warning is discussed. I feel this should be an active recall item for Mini Coopers. I could have easily dismissed the warning as a parking brake notice - and caused an accident by letting it go.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-11-01
- VIN: WMWLU5C35H2
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: My car is 4 years old, the headlight lenses on both sides are cracking from the inside, Mini Cooper will not cover this, there is a film on the inside of the lens which I found through research, this is a safety issue, these lenses should be clear not cracked and should not be after 4 years, the headlight beam is obstructed by these cracks and therefor a huge safety issue, the lens should be clear for the light to safely pass through, Mini Cooper will not cover these lenses, the lenses are a sealed unit and in no way operator error, this is a huge issue and I have pictures to prove this, I cannot believe the dealership is not concerned about this problem, I started to notice this happening in November of 2020, it is getting worse, there is no way this should be happening, the pictures I submitted you have to zoom in on them to see the cracks, light will not pass through these the way that light should, this is and will be a hazzard.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-07-01
- VIN: WMWLU5C3XH2
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: PROBLEM 1. A BUG IS INSIDE OF TAIL LAMP (RIGHT) 2. A LOT OF DEAD BUG'S DEBRIS AND DUST ARE ON THE HOUSING OF BOTH TAIL LAMPS. (RIGHT AND LEFT) THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE SAID THE ISSUE CANNOT BE COVERED BY WARRANTY BECAUSE THE BUGS WOULD BE CONSIDERED AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCES. IN MY KNOWLEDGE, THE BUG INSIDE OF THE TAIL LAMP CANNOT BE CONSIDERED AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCES, SUCH AS WEATHER OR OUTDOOR INFLUENCES. EVEN WATER SHOULD NOT BE INTRUDED ON THE LAMP. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY CONSIDERED AS DEFECTIVE PART OR IMPROPER TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY WHICH IS NOT SEALED UP TIGHTEN ENOUGH. IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY AS LONG AS THE WARRANTY STILL EXISTS.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-03-20
- VIN: WMWLN5C32H2
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: I HAVE A MELTED SOCKET AND EXPOSED WIRE FOR MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT BULB (HIGH/LOW BEAM MALFUNCTION ERROR). THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT IS CLOUDY WHICH I ASSUME IS FROM WHEN THE SOCKET MELTED/BURNED UP. I HAVE NO FUNCTIONING HEADLIGHT ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THOUGH THE TURN SIGNAL STILL WORKS. I DISCONNECTED THE BULB FROM THE SOCKET SO THAT IT DOESN'T KEEP BURNING. THERE ARE NO ISSUES WITH THE LEFT HEADLIGHT. BUT I DID HAVE THE RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT GO OUT LAST MAY (MAY 2019). MINI REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR A MELTED LIGHT SOCKET, SO THIS IS THE SECOND MELTED SOCKET ON THIS VEHICLE. BOTH ON THE RIGHT SIDE.
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2018-12-02
- Crash: 1
- VIN: WMWLN5C38H2
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: I OWN A 2017 MINI CLUBMAN, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHAT TURNS ON ARE THE REAR FOG LIGHTS LOCATED IN THE BOTTOM REAR BUMPER. THE MAIN REAR TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BREAK PEDAL IS PRESSED. THIS CAUSES VEHICLES NEARLY REAR ENDING MY VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN HIT AND AN EXPLANATION HAD TO BE GIVEN TO THE POLICE AS A REAR TAIL LIGHT TICKET WAS GOING TO BE ISSUED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS SHOULD BE DIVERTED TO WHERE THEY BELONG "REAR TAIL LIGHTS" AND NOT THE REAR BOTTOM BUMPER FOG LIGHTS. VERY UNSAFE AND THIS DESIGN SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-08-05
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: I DONT OWN A 2017 MINI CLUBMAN, BUT WAS DRIVING BEHIND ONE ON THE INTERSTATE. I ENDED UP ALMOST REAR ENDING THE CLUBMAN WHEN TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE THE SMALL LIGHTS ON THE BUMPER THAT CAN BE EASILY CONFUSED AS REAR FOG LIGHTS/REFLECTORS INSTEAD OF THE BIG RED LIGHTS ON THE REAR DOORS. THANKFULLY NOTHING HAPPENED AS THE FORWARD COLLISION SYSTEMS IN MY VEHICLE KICKED IN AND PREVENTED THE CRASH. I CONSIDER MYSELF A VERY ALERT DRIVER AND THE DESIGN OF THE REAR OF THE CLUBMAN IS VERY CONFUSING SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS THAT COME ON ARE NOT WHAT YOU ARE EXPECTING AND WHERE YOU ARE EXPECTING THEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS SOME REGULATION THAT PUT THEM THERE, BUT I DONT SEE ANY REASON WHY THE LIGHTS ON THE DOORS COULD NOT ALSO LIGHT UP WHEN BRAKING.
2017 Mini Clubman recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 3 recalls for different components of the 2017 Mini Clubman.
- Manufacturer: Curt Manufacturing LLC
- Components: TRAILER HITCHES
- Summary: Curt Manufacturing LLC (Curt) is recalling certain Class 1 trailer hitches, part number 11451, sold for installation on 2016-2018 Mini Cooper Clubman and Countryman vehicles. The vehicles may have inadequate structure points for the trailer hitch mounting, causing the hitch to sag under to certain loads and possibly separate from the vehicle.
- Consequence: If the trailer hitch sags or separates from the vehicle, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Curt will notify owners, and dealers will provide a replacement hitch, free of charge. The recall began on October 20, 2017. Owners may contact Curt customer service at 1-800-798-0813.
- Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.
- Consequence: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
- Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
- Components: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
- Summary: 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."
- Consequence: 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].
Negative 2017 Mini Clubman car reviews
Positive 2017 Mini Clubman car reviews
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We were searching for an add-on car to tow behind our motorhome and stumbled upon this gem! Despite having driven larger vehicles such as mini vans, trucks, and suburbans for years, I never expected to develop such a fondness for this little car. It's beautiful, has plenty of fun interior features, and is surprisingly fast! For the time being, our 2018 Suburban and Truck will have to take a backseat while we enjoy cruising around in this little guy!
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I'm so glad to hear that you love this little wagon! It's great to know that it holds a lot for a smaller car and gets good mileage. The easy handling and rear doors that open to the side for easy loading and unloading are definitely a plus. And the fact that the back seats fold flat for large storage space is just fantastic!
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2017 Mini Clubman problems:
2017 MINI Clubman Problems | Kelley Blue Book
How reliable is the 2017 MINI Clubman? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 months.
Reliability of a 2017 Clubman S All 4? 30,000km on it. : r/MINI
Feb 24, 2023 ... MINI recommends every year/10,000 miles. I usually do 7-8k or so. The F-chassis cars don't have the oil burn issues the old ones did, so the ...
2017 Mini Clubman Cooper S All4 Long-Term Verdict: The Cool Tax
Mar 8, 2018 ... The second-most common comment I got on the Clubman was some variation of "nice car." I tend to agree. Even among other quirky Minis on the road ...
What issues are common with a Clubman (F54) S? : r/MINI
Oct 22, 2022 ... The upper engine mount is the only real common-ish issue. It can crack as it's rubber, and suffers from the relatively high torque. It's only a ...
Other years of Mini Clubman
Are you having problems with your 2017 Mini Clubman?
Theron Beier 2024-08-04
The Clubman was redesigned for 2016. Although it's a nice car, it's unfortunate that one of the few perks of the previous model, fuel efficiency, is not as prominently displayed on the miniusa website. The new engine (3 cylinder!) has resulted in a lower MPG of 23 in the city, which is comparable to some larger sport utility vehicles, but still lower than the previous model. Despite this, as someone who has owned three MINIs, including a previous Clubman that got 32 mpg on the same route to work, I can say that I am not a MINI basher. However, it's understandable to consider other vehicles that offer more for less money. On the bright side, the Clubman has a unique look and is easy to spot in a parking lot. It's worth noting that we have an ALL4 base model, which is not listed among the choices here.