2015 MINI Cooper S recalls and problems
The 2015 MINI Cooper S has 4 safety recalls and 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any MINI dealer.
Recalls may cover only some 2015 MINI Cooper S vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.
2015 MINI Cooper S recalls
Recall 15V-739: Seats, Air Bags
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 .
Recall 15V-628: Air Bags
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.
Recall 15V-450: Structure
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.
Recall 14V-789: Power Train
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.
2015 MINI Cooper S problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or Other | 3 | |
| Engine | 3 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | |
| Electrical System | 2 | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | |
| Air Bags | 2 | |
| Structure | 2 | |
| Power Train | 1 | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
Most reported parts
- Structure › Body — 2
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 42,621 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2015 MINI Cooper S complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Other MINI Cooper S years
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2015 MINI Cooper S have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2015 MINI Cooper S: 15V-739 (seats, air bags), 15V-628 (air bags), 15V-450 (structure), 14V-789 (power train). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What is the most common problem with the 2015 MINI Cooper S?
Owners report unknown or other problems most often (3 reports), followed by engine (3). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 42,621 miles.
Are MINI recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized MINI dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.