▁the ▁cars . ▁This ▁contributed ▁to ▁brand ▁loyal ty ▁and ▁relatively ▁strong ▁sales , ▁and ▁expand ing ▁the ▁number ▁of ▁US ▁M ini ▁deal ers hips , ▁in ▁the ▁midst ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁re cess ion ▁and ▁autom ot ive ▁industry ▁crisis ▁of ▁ 2 0 0 8 – 1 0 . ▁ ▁Cons umer ▁Re ports ▁ranked ▁M ini ▁as ▁the ▁least ▁reliable ▁car ▁brand ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 3 , ▁saying ▁that , ▁" less - exp ensive ▁European ▁br ands ▁are ▁having ▁more ▁problems ", ▁perhaps ▁due ▁to ▁cost - cut ting ▁at ▁the ▁exp ense ▁of ▁reli ability . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 5 , ▁Cons umer ▁Re ports ▁awarded ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 6 – 2 0 1 2 ▁M ini ▁Cooper ▁S ▁the ▁title ▁Wor st ▁U sed ▁Car , ▁saying ▁that ▁while ▁it ▁was ▁" c ute ▁and ▁delight fully ▁entertain ing ", ▁the ▁repair ▁frequency ▁was ▁" heart bre aking " ▁because ▁the ▁magazine ' s ▁survey ed ▁own ers ▁reported ▁problems ▁in ▁the ▁areas ▁of ▁" engine ▁major , ▁engine ▁minor , ▁engine ▁cool ing , ▁fuel ▁system , ▁body ▁integrity , ▁and ▁body ▁hardware ▁have ▁issues ▁at ▁an ▁alarm ing ▁rate ". ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Category : M ini ▁( B MW ) ▁vehicles ▁Category : Sub comp act ▁cars ▁Category : Front - w heel - drive ▁vehicles ▁Category : H atch back s ▁Category : Convert ibles ▁Category : Ret ro - style ▁autom