Model year 2020 · Minicompact Cars, Subcompact Cars
2020 MINI Cooper: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2020 MINI Cooper at 29–31 mpg combined (gas versions) and 108 MPGe combined with 110 miles of EPA-rated range across 7 versions. NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 13 owner complaints for this model year.
Safety recalls
4
EPA combined mpg
29–31
NHTSA overall rating
—
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, COOPER S CLUBMAN, COOPER SE.
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.
2020 MINI Cooper recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 4 safety recalls for the 2020 MINI Cooper, newest first.
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper SE) vehicles. Faults may occur in the high voltage battery or high voltage system, resulting in a short circuit.
Risk
A short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Owners are advised that if a warning message is displayed in the vehicle, to park the vehicle outside and away from structures until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will provide a software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 14, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-866-ASK-MINI (1-866-275-6464).
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper SE) vehicles. The high voltage battery housing may not have been sealed properly, allowing water to enter the battery.
Risk
A high voltage battery with water damage can cause a fire or a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and leak test the high voltage battery, and repair the battery as necessary, free of charge. Letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed June 28, 2024. Owner notification letters were mailed October 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
Air bags: Side/window: Curtain and 2 more components
NHTSA 20V283000Reported May 20, 2020
Filed by
BMW of North America, LLC
Components
Air bags: Side/window: Curtain; Air bags: Air bag/restraint control module; Air bags
Units affected
76 (estimate)
Problem
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 X1 xDrive28i, X1 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i and X2 sDrive28i, 2020 MINI Clubman Cooper S All4, 2021 MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and Cooper S E) and MINI Hardtop 4 Door (Cooper and Cooper S) vehicles. Due to a problem with the rollover sensor within the air bag control unit, in the event of a rollover crash, the head air bag, seat belt pretensioners and other safety systems, may not activate.
Risk
If the safety systems do not deploy as intended in a roll over crash, it may increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began July 17, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and JCW vehicles. The rear side trim panels may have been assembled without a crash pad. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
Risk
Without a crash pad, rear seat passengers would have an increased risk of injury in the event of a side impact crash.
Remedy
MINI will notify owners, and MINI dealers will install crash pads, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2019. Owners may 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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2020 MINI Cooper fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination; electric figures are in MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent). 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.
2020 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.
2020 MINI Cooper NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
Forward collision warning
2020 Mini Cooper SE 3 HB FWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
—
Standard
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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2020 MINI Cooper owner complaints
Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 MINI Cooper, most recently on Feb 23, 2026. 4 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 3 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
Most-cited components in 2020 MINI Cooper complaints
Component named in complaints
Mentions
Air bags
3
Electrical system
3
Engine
2
Service brakes
2
Steering
2
Forward collision avoidance: Warnings
1
Fuel/propulsion system
1
Latches/locks/linkages
1
Power train
1
Vehicle speed control
1
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
