NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat cushion's sensor system may have been incorrectly calibrated during service, causing the airbag to deploy or not deploy when it should.
This page covers 5 recalls, 18 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2015 Mini Cooper S.
28–29 mpg combined
8.1–8.4 L/100km
Two Seaters
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
Complaints for the 2015 MINI Cooper S are spread across a small number of reports, with the most recognizable pattern involving the convertible top. Multiple owners describe the rear glass separating from the fabric top, the adhesive bond fails, leaving a gap and the glass hanging in place, and the fix requires replacing the entire top rather than just regluing the window. Engine-related complaints include a recurring fueling issue where the pump nozzle repeatedly shuts off prematurely, causing fuel to back up and overflow before the tank is full. A couple of owners raise airbag concerns, specifically that the passenger seat occupancy sensor may not correctly detect a seated occupant. One report describes brake lockup on wet roads with no warning lights, though that appears to be an isolated account.
18
Total Complaints
2
Fire-Related
By System
The 2015 MINI Cooper S has 5 recalls, with the most serious being a rollaway risk: a transmission control software error can allow the driver to exit the vehicle without the transmission being fully in Park, leaving it free to roll.
The remaining four recalls all involve occupant protection. The front passenger airbag can fail to deploy correctly in a low-speed crash, reducing protection for that occupant at the moment it is needed most. A separate issue affects the passenger seat sensor, which classifies whether the front passenger is an adult or a child to decide whether and how forcefully the airbag fires; if the sensor misreads the occupant, the airbag can activate or stay off when it should do the opposite, raising the risk of injury in a crash. On the structural side, the rear seating area does not meet federal side-impact performance requirements, meaning rear passengers absorb more force in a side collision than the design should allow. There is also a front seat recall: a defect in the seatback adjustment mechanism can let the seatback shift out of position during a severe impact, which removes the support keeping an occupant properly restrained and increases injury risk.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat cushion's sensor system may have been incorrectly calibrated during service, causing the airbag to deploy or not deploy when it should.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the front passenger seat cushion if needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Due to a manufacturing error, the passenger front air bag may not deploy properly during a low-speed crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear seat area lacks sufficient side impact protection. In a side collision, rear passengers may not be adequately protected.
What the fix does
Dealers will add energy absorption material between the rear interior panels and exterior body to improve side impact protection.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission control unit may have been reprogrammed with incorrect software during service, allowing drivers to open doors and exit the vehicle even when the transmission is not in Park.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the transmission control module with correct software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front seatback adjustment mechanism may allow the seatback to shift out of position during a severe crash, increasing injury risk to the occupant.
What the fix does
The dealer will re-align and re-tighten the seatback adjustment mechanisms.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
