Used Mini Hatchback 2014-2024 reliability

Most Minis will have been used enthusiastically, and some by new drivers, so check the bodywork for any car-park scuffs and dings to the wings, as well as the alloy wheels for any kerb damage. Have a look through the car's service history, too, to ensure it's been properly maintained.

Spare wheel

For early vehicles made from the start of production until 30 September 2014, the emergency spare wheel (if fitted) may work loose from the underside of the car.

Front seat backrest

The front seat backrests on Minis produced between 1 August 2014 and 30 September 2014 could have some play in the mechanism. This could, in the event of a collision, lead to injury because the seat may not remain in an upright position.

Airbag

There could be an issue with airbags that might not deploy in a collision on vehicles produced between 14 September 2016 and 21 October 2016. Check with your local Mini dealer to see if your car is affected by any of these safety recalls, because new airbag modules will need to be fitted.

Crankshaft sensor

A problem with the crankshaft sensor fitted to some diesel models manufactured between 22 May 2018 and 12 June 2018 could result in rough running and an engine malfunction warning light to illuminate. The engine could also stall, too. Speak with your local dealer if you think your car is affected, because it will need a new sensor if it is.

EGR module may leak

A number of diesel-powered Minis built between 3 March 2014 and 17 March 2017 that are fitted with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) module could have an issue with it leaking. In extreme circumstances, it could cause a fire, so affected cars should be inspected by a Mini dealer to find out if it needs replacing.

Click here for more information. Contact your local Mini dealer if you believe your vehicle is involved in a recall. Always check that all recalls have been carried out.

Our data suggests the Mini Hatch is a reliable car. It performed very well in our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, ranking third out of 26 cars in the small car class, with a confidence-inspiring reliability score of 99.1%. Only the Hyundai i10 and Toyota Aygo X ranked higher, so they're even more reliable, but the Mini Hatch is more reliable than the Audi A1, Ford Fiesta and VW Polo.

Mini is reliable as a car brand, too. In the same survey, it finished in second place out of 30 manufacturers, with a terrific overall score of 96.4%. It only missed out on the top spot to Honda, but other than that, it beat all of its other rivals.

Out of the reported Mini Hatchbacks in our survey, only 7% of cars had a problem. Owners were looked after well when things did go wrong, with all remedial work performed for free, even though many faults were reported outside the standard three-year warranty. Most of the faults that did occur were related to electrical components, including the infotainment system. There were also some steering-related issues.

Used Mini Hatch: owners' reliability data

In our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, Mini Hatch owners said their cars proved highly dependable, with only a very small percentage of cars suffering a fault in the last year.

When issues did arise, they were most commonly related to electrical systems and suspension. Examples included problems with the car’s infotainment screen, warning lights appearing, and some reports of noises from the suspension. Crucially, the cost to repair these issues was frequently low, and a significant number of drivers told us their cars were fixed for free, even if the vehicle was technically outside of its standard warranty period. This suggests that while minor gremlins can appear, they aren't often costly to fix.

The dealer experience was generally praised by owners, which is a strong positive. Most readers said the manufacturer's dealer network handled the repair process well, with a high proportion of cars being put right in a day or less. This level of support helps offset the inconvenience of a fault and reinforces the positive view of the brand.