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2020 MINI Cooper S recalls and problems

The 2020 MINI Cooper S has 2 safety recalls and 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any MINI dealer.

Recalls
2
Complaints
5
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2020 MINI Cooper S vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2020 MINI Cooper S recalls

Recall 20V-283: Air Bags

Reported May 20, 2020 · 76 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 X1 xDrive28i, X1 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i and X2 sDrive28i, 2020 MINI Clubman Cooper S All4, 2021 MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and Cooper S E) and MINI Hardtop 4 Door (Cooper and Cooper S) vehicles. Due to a problem with the rollover sensor within the air bag control unit, in the event of a rollover crash, the head air bag, seat belt pretensioners and other safety systems, may not activate.

Risk: If the safety systems do not deploy as intended in a roll over crash, it may increase the risk of injury.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began July 17, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

Recall 19V-634: Structure

Reported Aug 28, 2019 · 683 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and JCW vehicles. The rear side trim panels may have been assembled without a crash pad. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 214, "Side Impact Protection."

Risk: Without a crash pad, rear seat passengers would have an increased risk of injury in the event of a side impact crash.

Fix: MINI will notify owners, and MINI dealers will install crash pads, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2019. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

2020 MINI Cooper S problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Engine2
Visibility/Wiper1
Electrical System1
Wheels1
Steering1
Service Brakes1
Vehicle Speed Control1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 8,028 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 2020 MINI Cooper S complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Service Brakes · reported Jun 25, 2025
I was pulling into a parking spot slowly and all of the sudden the car took off and took off and I couldn’t stop and when I tried to sped hard on the break it wouldn’t work and I lost control and my car wouldn’t stop until it crashed into another vehicle that was sitting in another parking spot.
Steering · at 25,500 miles · reported Mar 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the power steering feature malfunctioned, causing the steering wheel to become difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 25,500. The VIN was not available.
Wheels · at 8,028 miles · reported Mar 18, 2021
The tires on this vehicle have blown out 3 times in the 9 months we have owned this car. Another tire (A fourth incident) had a bubble that was replaced before it blew out. All incidents were separate times. The dealer and bmw will do nothing. All blow outs were on the highway traveling about 60 MPH.
Electrical System · at 1,400 miles · reported Jun 23, 2020
During a rain shower, drove at about 15mph into roughly 4" of water gathered on the shoulder of an access road adjacent to the highway and the engine stalled. Would not restart. Puddle of water was not high enough to breach the cabin - running boards were still above water and the curb adjacent to the street was not submerged. Car would not start and transmission locked up. Bmw roadside assistance contacted and advised not to start; tow truck had difficulty loading onto the flatbed because the electrical system had malfunctioned in the electric convertible top and was overriding the ability to…
Visibility/Wiper · at 10 miles · reported Dec 19, 2019
When sitting in drivers seat ( I AM 5ft. 1 in tall) and the convertible top is open, I can not see through the rear view mira because the convertible top folded is blocking my vision. My seat is at highest position. Just as point of reference I had a 2012 mini conv. And this was not a problem. Because of this I had to take the car back to the dealer and get another vehicle which cost me in excess of $5000 as my 3 day old car was considered used with 91 miles on it. My husband who is 5'9" tall tried it and had some visibility but very limited. This is a dangerous thing and should have been…

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Frequently asked questions

Does the 2020 MINI Cooper S have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2020 MINI Cooper S: 20V-283 (air bags), 19V-634 (structure). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2020 MINI Cooper S?

Owners report engine problems most often (2 reports), followed by visibility/wiper (1). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 8,028 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.