Mini Cooper Recalls

The MINI Cooper has 38 recalls spanning 2002 through 2026, with the most serious recent issue affecting 2025 models where the integrated brake system can malfunction and cause loss of power brake assist, loss of anti-lock braking, and loss of electronic stability control, all of which extend stopping distances or reduce the driver's ability to maintain control.

The 2025 and 2026 model years also have a recall for front seat belt retractors with torsion bars that may have been damaged during production, meaning the belt may not hold an occupant properly in a crash. The 2025 recall covers Cooper, Cooper Convertible, and Countryman variants.

Going back to the 2019 and 2020-2021 era, a 2019 Cooper S Convertible, Countryman, and John Cooper Works Countryman has a steering tie rod that was assembled incorrectly, wears prematurely, and can break, causing a sudden loss of steering. On 2020 Hardtop 2-Door models, rear side trim panels may be missing a crash pad, leaving rear passengers with less protection in a side impact. Curtain airbags on 2020-2021 Clubman and Hardtop models may not deploy correctly in a rollover, raising the risk of injury.

The 2014 through 2017 model years carry a dense cluster of occupant protection issues. On 2016-2017 Hardtop 4-Door and Clubman models, the driver's seat belt emergency locking retractor may not lock when it should, and a separate issue on 2017 models involves seat-mounted side airbag inflators that can fail to ignite, leaving the airbag inactive in a crash. The 2014-2016 Cooper and Cooper S models have a passenger frontal airbag that may not deploy correctly in a low-speed crash. On 2014-2015 Hardtop 2-Door models, the front seatback adjustment mechanism may not be fully engaged, allowing the seatback to fold forward in a rear collision, and the passenger seat occupant detection sensor can misread occupancy and deactivate the airbag. Those same years also have a side impact protection shortfall where the body structure does not meet rear-seat side impact requirements. A 2014 spare wheel under the car may be secured with a non-locking nut that can vibrate loose and let the wheel separate while driving.

The 2007-2013 generation has a well-documented issue with the footwell module corroding from salt and moisture intrusion, which can cause an electrical short circuit and a fire even when the vehicle is parked and off. This affects 2007-2013 Hardtop 2-Door and 2008-2014 Clubman models, particularly those registered in states where road salt is common.

The 2005-2006 Cooper and Cooper S, along with 2005-2008 Convertible models, have a passenger seat occupant detection mat that can fail over time and cause the frontal airbag to remain inactive when the seat is occupied. The 2002-2005 Cooper and Cooper S can experience loss of electro-hydraulic power steering assist, requiring significantly more effort to steer at low speeds. The 2002 model year has a manual transmission shift cable that can detach from the linkage while changing gears, leaving the driver unable to select a gear, and a missing child seat tether anchor hardware issue.