Owners have filed 17 complaints
about the 2014 Mini Cooper S with NHTSA between 2015 and 2020.
The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain.
Across this model's run it ranks 13 of 15 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 6
Against the median year of the Mini Cooper S. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 30
5.9% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
67% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2014 Mini Cooper S
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Transmission & Drivetrain
635.3%
Median failure at 20,500 miles
Engine & Cooling
317.6%
Median failure at 6,000 miles
Other & Unspecified
211.8%
Median failure at 7,700 miles
Airbags
211.8%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 36,500 mi
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
15.9%
Median failure at 48,000 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
15.9%
Median failure at 46,000 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
15.9%
Median failure at 35,000 miles
Suspension
15.9%
Median failure at 39,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
533.3%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
16.7%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
960.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 2015peak 3Dec 2020
NHTSA investigations into the 2014 Mini Cooper S
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
AQ15004Opened 24 Sep 2015Closed 2 Oct 2017STRUCTURE
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...
Recalls on the 2014 Mini Cooper S
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 20153064,130 units in Canada
Structure
Certain vehicles may not comply with the side impact protection requirements of United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 214, which is voluntarily-adopted in Canada. As a result, rear seat occupants could be at a higher risk of injury in a side-impact crash. Correction: Dealers will install additional energy absorption material between the rear interior side panels and the exterior vehicle body, as necessary. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 2014-584.
Recall 2014561209 units in Canada
Powertrain
Certain vehicles may fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 114 - Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention. During service appointments with dealers, the automatic transmission control unit may have been inadvertently programmed with software that does not conform to the standard. As a result, drivers could exit the vehicle and may not realize that the vehicle's transmission is not in the PARK position. If this were to occur without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could roll away, which could result in a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the automatic transmission control unit software.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 25,000 milesManassas, VACrash
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MINI COOPER S. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT BLACKED OUT DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE BODY DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
NHTSA complaint #10957644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 48,000 milesFairfield, ME
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR ISSUE, I HAVE SEEN THIS REPORTED IN OTHER MINI COOPERS THAT WERE RECALLED BUT MY SPECIFIC MODEL WAS NOT. I WANT TO BE SURE ALL APPLICABLE VEHICLES ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND OTHER MINI OWNERS. I HAVE NO AIRBAG FUNCTION RIGHT NOW AND BOTH MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE ON. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR AT THE LEAST.
NHTSA complaint #11377693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 48,000 milesFairfield, ME
VISIBILITY/WIPER
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR ISSUE, I HAVE SEEN THIS REPORTED IN OTHER MINI COOPERS THAT WERE RECALLED BUT MY SPECIFIC MODEL WAS NOT. I WANT TO BE SURE ALL APPLICABLE VEHICLES ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND OTHER MINI OWNERS. I HAVE NO AIRBAG FUNCTION RIGHT NOW AND BOTH MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE ON. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR AT THE LEAST.
NHTSA complaint #11377693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Garden City, NY
POWER TRAIN
FIRST GEAR POPS OUT RANDOMLY, WHEN IT'S BEGINNING TO MOVE OR AFTER IT STARTED MOVING. IT CAN GO DAYS WITHOUT HAPPENING THEN IT WILL HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE DAY.
NHTSA complaint #11374754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,000 milesAbingdon, MD
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
BAD SENDING UNIT ON FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY; THIS CAUSED THE GAS LIGHTS TO STOP WORKING INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #11180415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 39,000 milesSelden, NY
SUSPENSION
I WAS DRIVING, MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHEN I HIT A ROCK ON THE ROAD WITH MY FRONT RIGHT TIRE. AFTER THIS, I WOULD HEAR A THUMPING SOUND WHILE TURNING. THEN WE LEARNED THAT THE MOUNTING KIT OF THE FRONT STRUT CRACKED; THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT OUR DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THAT IT'S A COMMON ISSUE AMONG MY MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11163304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aliso Viejo, CA
POWER TRAIN
DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION APPEAR WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY
NHTSA complaint #11151538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesTorrance, CA
POWER TRAIN
DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING - APPEARS AND REDUCES SPEED AT ANY TIME OF DRIVING - THIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE ACCIDENTS DUE TO LOSS OF POWER/PERFORMANCE. THIS WARNING IS ENGAGED AT ANYTIME W/O WARNING. SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR VEHICLE SHOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE AS THIS IMPACTS LOSS OF POWER. WHEN TAKING IT TO AUTO MECHANIC, NO CODES ARE FOUND AND NO ENGINE LIGHT OR FAULT CODE. RESEARCHING ALL F56 FORUM, SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN COMMON COMPLAINT. EVEN THOUGH THE WARNING COMES ON AND TELLS YOU TO DRIVE CAREFULLY (SLOW DOWN). YOU ARE STILL IN A HIGH DENSITY TRAFFIC OR FREEWAY THAT DOES NOT ALLOW YOU ENOUGH TIME TO PULL ON THE SIDE. THE SOFTWARE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO CONSUMER AS THIS IMPACTS THE SPEED OF THE CURRENT DRIVING CONDITION (WHICH IS NOT OBVIOUS TO OTHER DRIVERS). IF IT WAS A FLAT TIRE, OR SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD.. THIS IS VISIBLE. MECHANICS CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE DUE TO A "GENERAL / NO DETAILS" TO THE SPECIFIC ISSUE. THEREFORE, THE OLDER SOFTWARE FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL FOR HAZARDOUS DRIVING. FURTHERMORE, SOFTWARE UPDATES SHOULD BE NOTIFIED TO ALL CONSUMERS AND DETAILING THE ITEMS THAT THE SOFTWARE WILL BE CHANGING. THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION OR EVEN ON THEIR WEBSITE TO SHOW UPDATES AND NEEDS FOR IT. THIS IS A PROBLEM IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH ENGINE AND POWERTRAIN.
NHTSA complaint #11120569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesTorrance, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING - APPEARS AND REDUCES SPEED AT ANY TIME OF DRIVING - THIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE ACCIDENTS DUE TO LOSS OF POWER/PERFORMANCE. THIS WARNING IS ENGAGED AT ANYTIME W/O WARNING. SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR VEHICLE SHOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE AS THIS IMPACTS LOSS OF POWER. WHEN TAKING IT TO AUTO MECHANIC, NO CODES ARE FOUND AND NO ENGINE LIGHT OR FAULT CODE. RESEARCHING ALL F56 FORUM, SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN COMMON COMPLAINT. EVEN THOUGH THE WARNING COMES ON AND TELLS YOU TO DRIVE CAREFULLY (SLOW DOWN). YOU ARE STILL IN A HIGH DENSITY TRAFFIC OR FREEWAY THAT DOES NOT ALLOW YOU ENOUGH TIME TO PULL ON THE SIDE. THE SOFTWARE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO CONSUMER AS THIS IMPACTS THE SPEED OF THE CURRENT DRIVING CONDITION (WHICH IS NOT OBVIOUS TO OTHER DRIVERS). IF IT WAS A FLAT TIRE, OR SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD.. THIS IS VISIBLE. MECHANICS CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE DUE TO A "GENERAL / NO DETAILS" TO THE SPECIFIC ISSUE. THEREFORE, THE OLDER SOFTWARE FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL FOR HAZARDOUS DRIVING. FURTHERMORE, SOFTWARE UPDATES SHOULD BE NOTIFIED TO ALL CONSUMERS AND DETAILING THE ITEMS THAT THE SOFTWARE WILL BE CHANGING. THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION OR EVEN ON THEIR WEBSITE TO SHOW UPDATES AND NEEDS FOR IT. THIS IS A PROBLEM IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH ENGINE AND POWERTRAIN.
NHTSA complaint #11120569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesTorrance, CA
ENGINE
DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING - APPEARS AND REDUCES SPEED AT ANY TIME OF DRIVING - THIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE ACCIDENTS DUE TO LOSS OF POWER/PERFORMANCE. THIS WARNING IS ENGAGED AT ANYTIME W/O WARNING. SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR VEHICLE SHOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE AS THIS IMPACTS LOSS OF POWER. WHEN TAKING IT TO AUTO MECHANIC, NO CODES ARE FOUND AND NO ENGINE LIGHT OR FAULT CODE. RESEARCHING ALL F56 FORUM, SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN COMMON COMPLAINT. EVEN THOUGH THE WARNING COMES ON AND TELLS YOU TO DRIVE CAREFULLY (SLOW DOWN). YOU ARE STILL IN A HIGH DENSITY TRAFFIC OR FREEWAY THAT DOES NOT ALLOW YOU ENOUGH TIME TO PULL ON THE SIDE. THE SOFTWARE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO CONSUMER AS THIS IMPACTS THE SPEED OF THE CURRENT DRIVING CONDITION (WHICH IS NOT OBVIOUS TO OTHER DRIVERS). IF IT WAS A FLAT TIRE, OR SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD.. THIS IS VISIBLE. MECHANICS CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE DUE TO A "GENERAL / NO DETAILS" TO THE SPECIFIC ISSUE. THEREFORE, THE OLDER SOFTWARE FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL FOR HAZARDOUS DRIVING. FURTHERMORE, SOFTWARE UPDATES SHOULD BE NOTIFIED TO ALL CONSUMERS AND DETAILING THE ITEMS THAT THE SOFTWARE WILL BE CHANGING. THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION OR EVEN ON THEIR WEBSITE TO SHOW UPDATES AND NEEDS FOR IT. THIS IS A PROBLEM IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH ENGINE AND POWERTRAIN.
NHTSA complaint #11120569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,000 milesDaly City, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE F56 HORN IS NOT SENSITIVE, AND REQUIRES AGGRESSIVE PUSHING TO SOUND, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #11103580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesSanta Monica, CA
POWER TRAIN
OTHER MINI COPPERS FROM THIS YEAR WITH DIFFERENT MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR AN ISSUE THAT ALLOWS THE CAR TO THE EXITED WHEN THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK. MY CAR CAN GET SHUT DOWN, THIS IS PURPOSEFULLY STOPPED LIKE AT A PARKING SPACE. WHILE STILL IN DRIVE MODE, I CAN EXIT THE CAR, THE CAR STARTS TO ROLL AWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME NUMBERS TIMES. HAVING HAD TO JUMP BACK IN MY CAR TO STOP IT. ONCE ON A HILL AND IT ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. SCARY. BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2015 SPRING AND THE STARTED FALL OF 2016 AND HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. CAR BOOT TO BONNET WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AT THE TIME THIS STARTED. THEY WERE CALLED THE AROUND FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I WAS UNABLE TO GET MY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE IN PARK. THEN I WAS ABLE TO GET IT OUT WHILE IN DRIVE AND NOW, I CAN OFTEN RUN MY CAR WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THIS IS NOT A KEYLESS START CAR. ALL INCIDENTS TRANSPIRED ON PARKING LOTS OR PARKING SPACES ON A STREET.
NHTSA complaint #11023971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,000 milesManassas, VACrash
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MINI COOPER S. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT BLACKED OUT DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE BODY DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
NHTSA complaint #10957644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,400 milesST. Louis, MO
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
EXPERIENCED A LOUD RATTLE IN THE CAR, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE REAR SHOCKS, BUT THE RATTLE STILL HAS NOT BEEN ILLUMINATED. I EMAILED THE DEALER AND TOLD HIM THAT REPLACING THE SHOCKS DID NOT ILLUMINATE THE PROBLEM, HE SAID THAT MINI ENGINEERING IS GOING TO WORK ON THIS PROBLEM, THAT EVIDENTLY IS OCCURRING IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL.
NHTSA complaint #10822384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,000 milesHonolulu, HI
POWER TRAIN
WHEN ACCELERATING WITH TRANSMISSION IN FIRST GEAR FROM A STOP IT WILL ON OCCASION JUMP OUT OF GEAR CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER TO THE DRIVING WHEELS. CAR HAS A SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #10706147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,000 milesCupertino, CA
POWER TRAIN
OIL FILTER HOUSING FAILED DURING COMMUTE AND LOST ALL OIL. NEEDED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED FOR REPAIR. RECEIVED THE CAR BACK NEXT DAY. FAILED PART IS CURRENTLY SUBJECT OF RECALL, BUT MY CAR DID NOT FALL INTO THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL SO I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE. TWO DAYS AFTER REPAIR FOR THE OIL FILTER HOUSING, THE VANOS SYSTEM FAILED. ENTIRE VANOS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, TOOK A TOTAL OF 6 DAYS FOR REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10700844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,000 milesCupertino, CA
ENGINE
OIL FILTER HOUSING FAILED DURING COMMUTE AND LOST ALL OIL. NEEDED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED FOR REPAIR. RECEIVED THE CAR BACK NEXT DAY. FAILED PART IS CURRENTLY SUBJECT OF RECALL, BUT MY CAR DID NOT FALL INTO THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL SO I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE. TWO DAYS AFTER REPAIR FOR THE OIL FILTER HOUSING, THE VANOS SYSTEM FAILED. ENTIRE VANOS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, TOOK A TOTAL OF 6 DAYS FOR REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10700844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5,051 milesSanta Rosa, CA
ENGINE
VEHICLE LOST ALL OIL SUPPOSEDLY DUE TO A FAULTY OIL FILTER HOUSING CAR STOPPED AND WAS SMOKING.
NHTSA complaint #10679062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.