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Model year record

2015 MINI Cooper recalls & problems

The 2015 MINI Cooper has 6 safety recalls and 56 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine (14 complaints).

Recalls6safety recalls
Complaints56filed by owners
Crashes · fires3 · 0reported in complaints
NHTSA overall4 ★crash-test stars
2015 MINI Cooper in an NHTSA crash test
NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Air bagsNov 9, 2015

Sensor › Occupant classification

Recall 15V73900038 vehicles

Problem
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 door vehicles manufactured February 25, 2014, to May 16, 2015, 2014-2015 MINI Cooper S Hardtop 2 door vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to May 9, 2015, 2015 MINI Cooper Hardtop 4 door vehicles manufactured October 17, 2014, to June 2, 2015, and 2015 MINI Cooper S Hardtop 4 door vehicles manufactured November 24, 2014, to June 11, 2015. During a service appointment, the affected vehicles received replacement front passenger seat cushions (which contain integral Capacitive Interior Sensing (CIS) functions). The CIS functions may have been incorrectly calibrated, and if so, would cause impaired occupant classification and thus inappropriate air bag activation/deactivation.
Risk
Inappropriate air bag activation/deactivation can increase the risk of occupant injury in the event of a vehicle crash.
Fix
MINI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the front passenger seat cushion, free of charge. The recall began on December 28, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525 .

Components: Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification; Seats

Air bagsOct 7, 2015

Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Recall 15V6280006,073 vehicles

Problem
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper two-door vehicles, 2015-2016 MINI John Cooper Works and MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper four-door vehicles and 2014-2015 BMW i3 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the passenger frontal air bag may not deploy properly in a low speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk
In the event of a vehicle crash, an air bag that does not deploy properly increases the risk of injury to the front seat passenger.
Fix
MINI and BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on November 25, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525 and BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
StructureJul 17, 2015

Body

Recall 15V45000030,456 vehicles

Problem
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S Hardtop 2 Door vehicles and 2015 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop 2 Door vehicles. The affected vehicles do not meet the side impact performance requirements for the rear seat passengers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
Risk
If the side impact performance requirements are not met, rear seat passengers may be at a higher risk of injury during a crash.
Fix
MINI will notify owners, and dealers will install additional energy absorption material between the rear interior side panels and the exterior vehicle body, free of charge. The recall began on September 4, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525. Note: this recall supersedes 14V-815.
EquipmentJan 26, 2015

Other › Labels

Recall 15V03400013,130 vehicles

Problem
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 MINI Cooper Hardtop two door vehicles manufactured December 1, 2013, to December 14, 2014. The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with an incorrect maximum capacity weight stated on the Tire Information Placard. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less."
Risk
The maximum weight listed on the label is incorrect (too low) and therefore does not comply with Federal Regulations.
Fix
MINI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the incorrect labels with corrected labels, free of charge. Owners were mailed interim notification on March 18, 2015. The recall began on October 15, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
Power trainDec 15, 2014

Automatic transmission › Control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Recall 14V7890001,928 vehicles

Problem
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door, and Cooper S Hardtop 2 Door vehicles manufactured January 6, 2014, to October 17, 2014. During service appointments, dealers may have inadvertently reprogrammed the transmission control unit with software that may allow drivers to exit the vehicle when the transmission is not in Park. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk
If the driver exits the vehicle without the transmission being in Park, the vehicle could roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Fix
MINI will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control module with the correct software, free of charge. The recall February 4, 2015. Owners can contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
SeatsNov 10, 2014

Seats

Recall 14V721000846 vehicles

Problem
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door vehicles manufactured August 12, 2014, to September 2, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the driver and front passenger seatback adjustment mechanism may not be fully engaged.
Risk
If the seatback adjustment mechanism is not fully engaged, the seatback may fold during a rear impact collision, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
Fix
MINI will notify owners, and dealers will re-align and re-tighten the seatback adjustment mechanisms, free of charge. The recall began December 29, 2014. Owners can contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2015 Mini Cooper 2 DR FWD

OverallNot Rated
Frontal crashNot Rated
Side crashNot Rated
RolloverNot Rated

2015 Mini Cooper Convertible C FWD

OverallNot Rated
Frontal crashNot Rated
Side crashNot Rated
Rollover★★★★★
Rollover risk10.1%

2015 Mini Cooper Countryman 5 HB FWD

OverallNot Rated
Frontal crashNot Rated
Side crashNot Rated
RolloverNot Rated

2015 Mini Cooper Hardtop 3 HB FWD Later Release

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Rollover risk11.1%

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: No

2015 Mini Cooper Hardtop 3 HB FWD Early Release

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Rollover risk11.1%

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: No

2015 Mini Cooper Paceman 3 HB FWD

OverallNot Rated
Frontal crashNot Rated
Side crashNot Rated
RolloverNot Rated

2015 Mini Cooper Roadster C FWD

OverallNot Rated
Frontal crashNot Rated
Side crashNot Rated
RolloverNot Rated
2015 MINI Cooper NHTSA side crash test
NHTSA side barrier crash test
2015 MINI Cooper NHTSA side pole crash test
NHTSA side pole crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Cooper Coupe

32mpg combined
City / highway29 / 36 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,550/year to fuel

Cooper (3-doors)

32mpg combined
City / highway29 / 38 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

1.5 L · 3 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,550/year to fuel

Cooper (5-doors)

32mpg combined
City / highway28 / 38 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

1.5 L · 3 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,550/year to fuel

Cooper (3-doors)

31mpg combined
City / highway27 / 36 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

1.5 L · 3 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,650/year to fuel

Cooper (5-doors)

31mpg combined
City / highway27 / 36 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

1.5 L · 3 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,650/year to fuel

Cooper Coupe

30mpg combined
City / highway27 / 35 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,750/year to fuel

Cooper Roadster

29mpg combined
City / highway26 / 33 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,850/year to fuel

Cooper Convertible

29mpg combined
City / highway26 / 33 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,850/year to fuel

Cooper Roadster

29mpg combined
City / highway27 / 33 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,850/year to fuel

Cooper Convertible

29mpg combined
City / highway27 / 33 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,850/year to fuel

Cooper Countryman

29mpg combined
City / highway27 / 33 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,850/year to fuel

Cooper Paceman

29mpg combined
City / highway27 / 33 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,850/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem areaComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuriesTypical mileage*
Engine1420137,499 mi
Fuel/propulsion system11000—
Power train1010025,000 mi
Electrical systemHorn1020114,986 mi
Service brakes82004,000 mi
Unknown or other4101—
Suspension3000—
Vehicle speed controlCruise control2100—
EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner2000—
Steering2000—
Visibility/wiper2000—
VisibilityRearview mirrors/devices › Interior2000—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations