Model year 2015 · Subcompact Cars, Minicompact Cars, Two Seaters
2015 MINI Cooper: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2015 MINI Cooper at 27–32 mpg combined across 16 versions. NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 74 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 4 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
6
EPA combined mpg
27–32
NHTSA overall rating
4/5
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
NHTSA lists this vehicle as COOPER S.
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a MINI dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2015 MINI Cooper recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 6 safety recalls for the 2015 MINI Cooper, newest first.
Air bags: Sensor: Occupant classification and 1 more component
NHTSA 15V739000Reported Nov 9, 2015
Filed by
BMW of North America, LLC
Components
Air bags: Sensor: Occupant classification; Seats
Units affected
38 (estimate)
Problem
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 .
Air bags: Frontal: Passenger side: Inflator module
NHTSA 15V628000Reported Oct 7, 2015
Filed by
BMW of North America, LLC
Units affected
6,073 (estimate)
Problem
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.
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.
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.
Power train: Automatic transmission: Control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
NHTSA 14V789000Reported Dec 15, 2014
Filed by
BMW of North America, LLC
Units affected
1,928 (estimate)
Problem
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.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door vehicles manufactured August 12, 2014, to September 2, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the driver and front passenger seatback adjustment mechanism may not be fully engaged.
Risk
If the seatback adjustment mechanism is not fully engaged, the seatback may fold during a rear impact collision, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
Remedy
MINI will notify owners, and dealers will re-align and re-tighten the seatback adjustment mechanisms, free of charge. The recall began December 29, 2014. Owners can contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2015 MINI Cooper fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2015 MINI Cooper crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
2015 MINI Cooper NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
Forward collision warning
2015 Mini Cooper 2 DR FWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
—
No
2015 Mini Cooper Convertible C FWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
5 stars
10.1%
No
2015 Mini Cooper Hardtop 3 HB FWD Early Release
4 stars
4 stars
3 stars
4 stars
11.1%
Optional
2015 Mini Cooper Hardtop 3 HB FWD Later Release
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
11.1%
Optional
2015 Mini Cooper S 2 DR FWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
—
No
2015 Mini Cooper S C FWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
—
No
2015 Mini Cooper S Countryman 5 HB FWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
—
No
2015 Mini Cooper S Countryman ALL4 5 HB AWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
—
No
2015 Mini Cooper S Hardtop 3 HB FWD Early Release
4 stars
4 stars
3 stars
4 stars
11.1%
Optional
2015 Mini Cooper S Hardtop 3 HB FWD Later Release
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
4 stars
11.1%
Optional
2015 Mini Cooper S Paceman 3 HB FWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
—
No
2015 Mini Cooper S Paceman ALL4 3 HB AWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
—
No
2015 Mini Cooper S Roadster C FWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
—
No
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
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2015 MINI Cooper owner complaints
Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 MINI Cooper, most recently on Aug 13, 2026. 3 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 1 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
Most-cited components in 2015 MINI Cooper complaints
Component named in complaints
Mentions
Engine
17
Fuel/propulsion system
13
Electrical system
11
Power train
11
Service brakes
9
Unknown or other
7
Air bags
3
Exterior lighting
3
Structure: Body
3
Suspension
3
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
