How many recalls does the Mini Cooper have?

As of NHTSA records retrieved 2026-08-27, NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the Mini Cooper, model years 2016–2024. A recall applies to specific VIN ranges, variants, trims or build dates, so a particular vehicle may be affected by all, some, or none of them, and a campaign count is not a reliability ranking. Whether an open recall is a safety risk depends on the campaign, so read the NHTSA entry for the VIN. Each campaign below shows the remedy NHTSA records, which may be a dealer or service-center repair, an over-the-air software update, or, for some campaigns, a repurchase. This page details the most recent campaigns; the full record for any VIN is at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What should an inspector check on a used Mini Cooper?

Beyond the standard pre-purchase checks, the recall history for this model concentrates in: air bags, seat belts, steering, exterior lighting, engine and engine cooling, structure. An inspector documents the visible and operational condition of those systems without disassembly; internal parts, software-only issues and whether a recall remedy was performed are VIN-lookup questions, not inspection findings.

Can a pre-purchase inspection tell me whether a Mini Cooper recall was done?

No. Whether a recall repair was performed is recorded against the VIN, so NHTSA's lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls (or the manufacturer's own) is the authoritative check. Run it before you travel. The inspection covers what a VIN lookup cannot: the physical condition of the vehicle in front of you.

Can you inspect a Mini Cooper at a dealer, a private seller, or out of state?

Yes. The inspector usually travels to the vehicle at the seller's location — a dealer lot or a private seller — and you do not need to be there. Vehicle Inspectors dispatches an independent inspector within 50 miles of any US ZIP code, widening to 150 miles if needed; more remote locations are quoted case by case. You get a photo-documented PDF report in 24–48 hours.

How much does a Mini Cooper pre-purchase inspection cost?

A pre-purchase inspection of a Mini Cooper through Vehicle Inspectors: Bronze $249 · Silver $349 · Gold $449. Your card is saved at booking, not charged. A hold is placed when an inspector schedules, and you are charged after the inspection is completed. If no inspector accepts within 72 hours, the request auto-cancels and nothing is charged.

Should You Buy a Used Mini Cooper?

Newest first, from NHTSA campaign records. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

21V554000NHTSA report received July 2021Model years: 2021

NHTSA campaign 21V554000: Mini Cooper seat belts recall

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 2 Series (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive), 330e, 330e Xdrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive) M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, BMW 4 Series Convertible (430i, M440i), BMW X1 sDrive28i, xDrive28i, 2 Series Gran Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i xDrive), M2 Competition Coupe, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, M3, M3 Competition, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, CooperS, JCW), X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X2 M35i, Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper SE), MINI Convertible (Cooper, Cooper S, JCW), MINI Clubman (Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW), MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), Rolls Royce Ghost, MINI Countryman (Cooper S E All4), Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, and Toyota Supra vehicles. The passenger seat belt Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, before the webbing fully retracts. As such, these assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence: During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will inspect the seat belt retractors (including the seat belts) and, if necessary, replace the retractors, free of charge.

20V283000NHTSA report received May 2020Model years: 2020–2021

NHTSA campaign 20V283000: Mini Cooper air bags recall

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.

Consequence: If the safety systems do not deploy as intended in a roll over crash, it may increase the risk of injury.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge.

19V634000NHTSA report received August 2019Model years: 2020

NHTSA campaign 19V634000: Mini Cooper structure recall

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."

Consequence: Without a crash pad, rear seat passengers would have an increased risk of injury in the event of a side impact crash.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): MINI will notify owners, and MINI dealers will install crash pads, free of charge.

19V601000NHTSA report received August 2019Model years: 2019

NHTSA campaign 19V601000: Mini Cooper steering recall

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2019 X2 xDrive28i, MINI Cooper S Convertible, Countryman, and John Cooper Works Countryman vehicles. The steering gear tie rod may have been assembled incorrectly, which may result in excessive wear of the tie rod end, eventually causing it to break.

Consequence: A broken steering tie rod would lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace the tie rods and ball joints as necessary, free of charge.

18V465000NHTSA report received July 2018Model years: 2019

NHTSA campaign 18V465000: Mini Cooper engine and engine cooling recall

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a vehicle stall. On September 12, 2018, BMW expanded the recall to a total of 5,309 vehicles including certain 2018-2019 BMW 540d xDrive, 230i M240i, M240i xDrive, X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 330i, 330i xDrive, 340i, 340i xDrive, 330i xDrive Gran Turismo, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 530e, 530e xDrive, 640i xDrive Gran Turismo, 330e, 2019 430i Gran Coupe, 430i xDrive Gran Coupe, 440i Gran Coupe, 440i xDrive Gran Coupe, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, 740i, 740i xDrive, MINI Cooper, Cooper S, JCW, MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), and MINI Clubman (Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, JCW All4) vehicles.

Consequence: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft sensor, free of charge.

17V222000NHTSA report received March 2017Model years: 2016–2017

NHTSA campaign 17V222000: Mini Cooper exterior lighting recall

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2016-2017 MINI Cooper Clubman, Cooper S Clubman and JCW Clubman vehicles. When the affected vehicles are braking and the turn signals are on, the inner, bumper-mounted, brake light will go out. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: If the brake light does not illuminate when a turn signal is activated, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): MINI will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the vehicle to correct the brake lighting, free of charge.

16V914000NHTSA report received December 2016Model years: 2017

NHTSA campaign 16V914000: Mini Cooper air bags recall

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.

Consequence: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge.

16V747000NHTSA report received October 2016Model years: 2016–2017

NHTSA campaign 16V747000: Mini Cooper seat belts recall

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, MINI Hardtop 4 Door Cooper, Mini Hardtop 4 Door Cooper S, MINI Cooper Clubman, and Cooper S Clubman, 2017 Rolls-Royce Ghost, and 2016 528i vehicles. The vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism of the seat belt Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) for the driver's seat may not lock as designed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."

Consequence: In the event of a crash where heavy braking is applied, the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) may activate when the occupant is more forward in the seat, possibly increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt assembly, free of charge.

15V887000NHTSA report received December 2015Model years: 2016

NHTSA campaign 15V887000: Mini Cooper steering recall

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling one model year 2016 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door vehicle manufactured November 24, 2015, and one BMW X1 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) manufactured October, 19 2015. The steering gearbox may have been manufactured with incorrect parts.

Consequence: A gearbox malfunction may cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): BMW will replace the steering gearbox, free of charge.

15V628000NHTSA report received October 2015Model years: 2016

NHTSA campaign 15V628000: Mini Cooper air bags recall

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."

Consequence: 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 per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): MINI and BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge.

What does a pre-purchase inspection cover on a used Mini Cooper?

The same full inspection at every tier, at the seller’s location, with a photo-documented report:

Bronze $249 · Silver $349 · Gold $449. Compare Bronze, Silver and Gold. The core inspection is the same at each tier; Silver and Gold add instrumented measurements.

Similar used small cars

Other small cars to weigh against the Mini Cooper. Recall counts cover different model-year spans and are not a reliability ranking.

What does a pre-purchase inspection not do?

Common questions about buying a used Mini Cooper

Where can I book a Mini Cooper pre-purchase inspection?

Vehicle Inspectors matches buyers with independent inspectors nationwide. Local pages for cities with active inspectors:

Recall data from NHTSA recall records (NHTSA public recalls API), retrieved 2026-08-27. Vehicle Inspectors is not affiliated with Mini. A recall is not a defect finding on any individual vehicle.

Should you buy a used Mini Cooper?

Which systems do Mini Cooper recalls affect?

What are the most recent NHTSA recall campaigns for the Mini Cooper?