2014 MINI Cooper problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 MINI Cooper, most often about electrical system. There are 7 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
5
Recalls
7
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Median mileage
82,350 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Engine is the most-reported problem area, named in 2 of 5 complaints (40%).
  • Electrical System (2) and airbags (1) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 82,350 mi.
  • Owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries.
  • The 2014 MINI Cooper has 7 recalls on file.
  • NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations covering this vehicle.
  • It ranks 17th of 22 MINI Cooper model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
  • That is 83% fewer complaints than the 2013 model year (29).

2014 MINI Cooper problems by category

  • Engine
    2 complaints
  • Electrical System
    2 complaints
  • Airbags
    1 complaints
  • Other / Unknown
    1 complaints
  • Transmission & Drivetrain
    1 complaints
  • Suspension
    1 complaints
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Electrical system2
Engine1
Engine and engine cooling1
Fuel/propulsion system1
Power train1
Suspension1
Air bags1
Unknown or other1

When problems happen (mileage)

Under 10k10k–30k30k–60k260k–100k100k–150k150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2014 MINI Cooper complaints that list mileage.

2014 MINI Cooper recalls (7)

  • Recall 15V739000Nov 9, 201538 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION · SEATS

    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.

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

    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 .

  • Recall 15V628000Oct 7, 20156,073 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

    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."

    Risk: 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.

    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.

  • Recall 15V450000Jul 17, 201530,456 vehicles
    STRUCTURE:BODY

    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."

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

    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.

  • Recall 15V034000Jan 26, 201513,130 vehicles
    EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 MINI Cooper Hardtop two door vehicles manufactured December 1, 2013, to December 14, 2014. The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with an incorrect maximum capacity weight stated on the Tire Information Placard. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less."

    Risk: The maximum weight listed on the label is incorrect (too low) and therefore does not comply with Federal Regulations.

    Remedy: MINI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the incorrect labels with corrected labels, free of charge. Owners were mailed interim notification on March 18, 2015. The recall began on October 15, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

  • Recall 14V789000Dec 15, 20141,928 vehicles
    POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

    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."

    Risk: 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.

    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.

  • Recall 14V619000Oct 3, 20145,805 vehicles
    TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2-door vehicles manufactured January 7, 2014, to July 21, 2014. The spare wheel may have been attached under the car with a nut that is not self-locking.

    Risk: Vibrations from driving may cause the nut to loosen, allowing the wheel to separate from the car. If the spare wheel separates from the vehicle, it could become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the spare wheel securing nut with a self-locking nut, free of charge. The recall began on November 20, 2014. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-275-6464.

  • Recall 14V422000Jul 14, 201427 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling a certain model year BMW i3 vehicle manufactured March 31, 2014, and certain 2014 MINI Cooper Hardtop vehicles manufactured February 2, 2014 to May 30, 2014. The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with an air bag inflator that was not assembled correctly. This could cause the air bag to not deploy properly in the event of an accident.

    Risk: If the air bag deploys improperly in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the air bags, the seat occupant may be at an increased risk of injury.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • AQ15004Opened Sep 24, 2015Closed Oct 2, 2017

    BMW Safety Act Violations

    In a Consent Order executed on December 17, 2015, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) admitted that it violated the Safety Act by: failing to conduct a timely recall for Recall No. 15V-450; failing to file certain quarterly recall reports in a timely manner; failing to timely notify vehicle owners of the existence of a defect or noncompliance; failing to promptly advise NHTSA of delays with the beginning or completion dates for mailing owner or dealer notifications; and failing to timely submit copies to NHTSA of communications relating to recalls.As part of the Consent Order, NHTSA imposed a t…

  • AQ15003Opened Aug 18, 2015Closed Aug 23, 2016

    International Autos, Inc. / Mini Recall

    The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a manufacturer notify its dealers of defects related to motor vehicle safety and non-compliances with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and, in turn, that a dealer not sell and deliver a new vehicle subject to a recall unless the recall remedy has been performed (49 U.S.C. ?? 30112(a), 30120(i)).NHTSA opened AQ15-003 to determine whether International Autos, Inc. of West Allis, Wisconsin complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 (Safety Act). NHTSA received information that I…

Recent 2014 MINI Cooper complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Apr 29, 2026CAAirbagsOther / Unknown
    The "Passenger Airbag Off" light is illuminated, meaning the primary safety restraint system is disabled. The failed component is the "Occupancy Classification System (OCS) / OC3 Sensor Mat." I purchased a very well-maintained 2014 MINI in March 2026 and the failure occurred shortly after the 10-year warranty window expired. BMW Group has similar BMW models using the very same technology, and they received 15-year extensions, not 10. BMW Coverage: Has extended the warranty…
    NHTSA complaint #11734671 · source
  2. Filed Feb 26, 202580,000 miTXElectrical System
    The contact owns a 2014 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that the front driver's side and passenger’s side doors and windows failed to properly close. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the failure was caused by a faulty foot well module which caused the electrical power windows to malfunction and the doors to not properly close. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the…
    NHTSA complaint #11645104 · source
  3. Filed Oct 10, 2023KSSuspensionTransmission & Drivetrain
    Engine motor mount sheared, allowing motor to interact with and bounce directly on the frame, and stressing the other connections and components. Dealer indicated this is a very common problem for this car model and is likely a design issue, and even had another example of a sheared mount on display in order to show others with the same issue.
    NHTSA complaint #11549149 · source
  4. Filed Aug 8, 2023CAElectrical SystemEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    The fuse box JBE module has a Quality Assurance problem with a solder connection to the NEC low pressure fuel relay. This is a known issue with BMW/Mini. The car suddenly stalls without warning. If the driver is not keen or if traffic patterns do not allow, the car can be left in very dangerous situations on the highway or in the middle of intersection. The repair for this problem is widely distributed online via blogs and YouTube, but replacement modules are $1500 (part…
    NHTSA complaint #11537267 · source
  5. Filed Jul 12, 202284,700 miCAFireTowedEngine
    The contact owns a 2014 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, there was smoke detected from the vehicle. The vehicle caught fire without warning. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment, or crash. The fire department distinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to a lot. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The…
    NHTSA complaint #11473561 · source

Compare the 2014 MINI Cooper with another vehicle →

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology