NHTSA vehicle safety data

2014 Mini Cooper S Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2014 Mini Cooper S has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 13 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mini dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2014 Mini Cooper S, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2014 Mini Cooper S owner complaints

Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Mini Cooper S, describing incidents dated January 21, 2015 to December 2, 2020.

Most-cited components

Power Train 6 complaints
Engine 3 complaints
Air Bags 2 complaints
Unknown or Other 2 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint

Of the 13 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11377693 · Filed December 3, 2020
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR ISSUE, I HAVE SEEN THIS REPORTED IN OTHER MINI COOPERS THAT WERE RECALLED BUT MY SPECIFIC MODEL WAS NOT. I WANT TO BE SURE ALL APPLICABLE VEHICLES ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND OTHER MINI OWNERS. I HAVE NO AIRBAG FUNCTION RIGHT NOW AND BOTH MY DRIVER…
ODI #11374754 · Filed November 15, 2020
FIRST GEAR POPS OUT RANDOMLY, WHEN IT'S BEGINNING TO MOVE OR AFTER IT STARTED MOVING. IT CAN GO DAYS WITHOUT HAPPENING THEN IT WILL HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE DAY.
ODI #11180415 · Filed February 15, 2019
BAD SENDING UNIT ON FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY; THIS CAUSED THE GAS LIGHTS TO STOP WORKING INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING.

Read all 13 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2014 Mini Cooper S in 1 investigation. Audit Queries and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations: they look at whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules, not at a possible vehicle defect. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Audit Query AQ15-004: BMW Safety Act Violations
Closed October 2, 2017

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Replacement Passenger Seat Cushions/Air Bag Coding

NHTSA #15V739000 · Seats · NHTSA notice

Reported November 9, 2015 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 38 vehicles

Repair completion: 89.47% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified December 28, 2015 · Vehicles built March 28, 2014 – June 11, 2015 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

Inappropriate air bag activation/deactivation can increase the risk of occupant injury in the event of a vehicle crash.

Manufacturer remedy

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 .

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Passenger Frontal Air Bag May not Deploy Properly

NHTSA #15V628000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported October 7, 2015 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 6,073 vehicles

Repair completion: 93.24% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified November 25, 2015 · Vehicles built March 10, 2014 – August 24, 2015 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Side Impact Crash Worthiness/FMVSS 214

NHTSA #15V450000 · Structure — Body · NHTSA notice

Reported July 17, 2015 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 30,456 vehicles

Repair completion: 90.37% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified September 4, 2015

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

If the side impact performance requirements are not met, rear seat passengers may be at a higher risk of injury during a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Transmission Software may Result in Rollaway

NHTSA #14V789000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Control Module (TCM/PCM/TECM) · NHTSA notice

Reported December 15, 2014 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 1,928 vehicles

Repair completion: 95.48% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified February 4, 2015 · Vehicles built January 6, 2014 – October 17, 2014 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

2014 Mini Cooper S Convertible C FWD

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

10% rollover risk

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

2 investigations

2014 Mini Cooper S Coupe 2 DR FWD

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

2 investigations

13 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2014 Mini Cooper S.

Air Bags; Visibility/Wiper

ODI #11377693

Incident: December 2, 2020 · Filed: December 3, 2020

PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR ISSUE, I HAVE SEEN THIS REPORTED IN OTHER MINI COOPERS THAT WERE RECALLED BUT MY SPECIFIC MODEL WAS NOT. I WANT TO BE SURE ALL APPLICABLE VEHICLES ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND OTHER MINI OWNERS. I HAVE NO AIRBAG FUNCTION RIGHT NOW AND BOTH MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE ON. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR AT THE LEAST.

Power Train

ODI #11374754

Incident: November 1, 2020 · Filed: November 15, 2020

FIRST GEAR POPS OUT RANDOMLY, WHEN IT'S BEGINNING TO MOVE OR AFTER IT STARTED MOVING. IT CAN GO DAYS WITHOUT HAPPENING THEN IT WILL HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE DAY.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11180415

Incident: February 7, 2019 · Filed: February 15, 2019

BAD SENDING UNIT ON FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY; THIS CAUSED THE GAS LIGHTS TO STOP WORKING INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING.

Suspension

ODI #11163304

Incident: October 5, 2018 · Filed: December 24, 2018

I WAS DRIVING, MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHEN I HIT A ROCK ON THE ROAD WITH MY FRONT RIGHT TIRE. AFTER THIS, I WOULD HEAR A THUMPING SOUND WHILE TURNING. THEN WE LEARNED THAT THE MOUNTING KIT OF THE FRONT STRUT CRACKED; THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT OUR DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THAT IT'S A COMMON ISSUE AMONG MY MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR.

Power Train

ODI #11151538

Incident: November 14, 2018 · Filed: November 14, 2018

DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION APPEAR WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY

Power Train; Vehicle Speed Control; Engine

ODI #11120569

Incident: August 8, 2018 · Filed: August 17, 2018

DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING - APPEARS AND REDUCES SPEED AT ANY TIME OF DRIVING - THIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE ACCIDENTS DUE TO LOSS OF POWER/PERFORMANCE. THIS WARNING IS ENGAGED AT ANYTIME W/O WARNING. SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR VEHICLE SHOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE AS THIS IMPACTS LOSS OF POWER. WHEN TAKING IT TO AUTO MECHANIC, NO CODES ARE FOUND AND NO ENGINE LIGHT OR FAULT CODE. RESEARCHING ALL F56 FORUM, SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN COMMON COMPLAINT. EVEN THOUGH THE WARNING COMES ON AND TELLS YOU TO DRIVE CAREFULLY (SLOW DOWN). YOU ARE STILL IN A HIGH DENSITY TRAFFIC OR FREEWAY THAT DOES NOT ALLOW YOU ENOUGH TIME TO PULL ON THE SIDE. THE SOFTWARE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO CONSUMER AS THIS IMPACTS THE SPEED OF THE CURRENT DRIVING CONDITION (WHICH IS NOT OBVIOUS TO OTHER DRIVERS). IF IT WAS A FLAT TIRE, OR SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD.. THIS IS VISIBLE. MECHANICS CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE DUE TO A "GENERAL / NO DETAILS" TO THE SPECIFIC ISSUE. THEREFORE, THE OLDER SOFTWARE FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL FOR HAZARDOUS DRIVING. FURTHERMORE, SOFTWARE UPDATES SHOULD BE NOTIFIED TO ALL CONSUMERS AND DETAILING THE ITEMS THAT THE SOFTWARE WILL BE CHANGING. THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION OR EVEN ON THEIR WEBSITE TO SHOW UPDATES AND NEEDS FOR IT. THIS IS A PROBLEM IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH ENGINE AND POWERTRAIN.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11103580

Incident: September 1, 2015 · Filed: June 23, 2018

THE F56 HORN IS NOT SENSITIVE, AND REQUIRES AGGRESSIVE PUSHING TO SOUND, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD.

Power Train

ODI #11023971

Incident: October 1, 2016 · Filed: September 18, 2017

OTHER MINI COPPERS FROM THIS YEAR WITH DIFFERENT MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR AN ISSUE THAT ALLOWS THE CAR TO THE EXITED WHEN THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK. MY CAR CAN GET SHUT DOWN, THIS IS PURPOSEFULLY STOPPED LIKE AT A PARKING SPACE. WHILE STILL IN DRIVE MODE, I CAN EXIT THE CAR, THE CAR STARTS TO ROLL AWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME NUMBERS TIMES. HAVING HAD TO JUMP BACK IN MY CAR TO STOP IT. ONCE ON A HILL AND IT ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. SCARY. BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2015 SPRING AND THE STARTED FALL OF 2016 AND HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. CAR BOOT TO BONNET WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AT THE TIME THIS STARTED. THEY WERE CALLED THE AROUND FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I WAS UNABLE TO GET MY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE IN PARK. THEN I WAS ABLE TO GET IT OUT WHILE IN DRIVE AND NOW, I CAN OFTEN RUN MY CAR WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THIS IS NOT A KEYLESS START CAR. ALL INCIDENTS TRANSPIRED ON PARKING LOTS OR PARKING SPACES ON A STREET.

Air Bags

ODI #10957644

Crash

Incident: December 22, 2016 · Filed: February 28, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MINI COOPER S. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT BLACKED OUT DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE BODY DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

Unknown or Other

ODI #10822384

Incident: January 25, 2016 · Filed: January 26, 2016

EXPERIENCED A LOUD RATTLE IN THE CAR, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE REAR SHOCKS, BUT THE RATTLE STILL HAS NOT BEEN ILLUMINATED. I EMAILED THE DEALER AND TOLD HIM THAT REPLACING THE SHOCKS DID NOT ILLUMINATE THE PROBLEM, HE SAID THAT MINI ENGINEERING IS GOING TO WORK ON THIS PROBLEM, THAT EVIDENTLY IS OCCURRING IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL.

Other Mini Cooper S model years

Check your 2014 Mini Cooper S VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mini Cooper S at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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