Summary
The MINI Cooper has 25 recalls spanning the 2002 through 2026 model years, with the most serious recent issue being a damaged front seat belt retractor on 2025-2026 models where the torsion bar can fail to properly restrain an occupant in a crash.
The 2025-2026 recall covers Cooper Convertible, Cooper, Countryman S ALL4, and Countryman SE ALL4 vehicles. Moving back to the 2020-2021 model years, curtain airbags on certain Hardtop 2-door and 4-door and Clubman Cooper S All4 vehicles can fail to deploy in a rollover, leaving occupants without that protection. On 2014-2016 models, the front passenger airbag can fail to deploy correctly in a low-speed crash due to a manufacturing error, and 2014-2015 vehicles have a passenger seat sensor that can wear out over time and cause the passenger airbag to deactivate, raising the risk of injury in a crash. The 2014-2015 Hardtop 2-door also has a seatback adjustment mechanism that may not fully lock, allowing the seat to fold forward in a rear impact. There is also a 2014-2016 compliance issue affecting rear seat occupant protection in side-impact crashes. The spare tire on certain 2014 Hardtop 2-door vehicles was secured with a non-locking nut that can vibrate loose and allow the wheel to drop from the undercarriage while driving.
Going further back, 2007 models have a footwell module that can absorb a salt-moisture mixture, corrode internally, short-circuit, and start a fire even with the vehicle parked and off. On 2005 models, the passenger seat sensor mat can degrade and disable the front passenger airbag without warning. The 2006 model with a CVT can lose the ability to shift gears if a weld in the gear selector linkage breaks, leaving it locked in whatever gear was engaged. The 2004 model's flat tire monitoring system lacks the correct programming to sound an audible alert when a tire goes flat, so the driver may not notice the loss of pressure. The 2003 model has a rear strut mounting screw whose head can tear off; the remaining shaft holds initially but can eventually break and allow the strut to lose its connection to the chassis. On 2002 models with manual transmissions, the shift cable can detach from the transmission linkage while changing gears, leaving the vehicle unable to accelerate out of whatever gear it lands in. Several label-related recalls affect the 2002, 2010, and 2014-2015 model years, involving incorrect tire size, tire pressure, and vehicle weight ratings on the tire information placard.
