2014 Mini COOPER S: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
25,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 13 complaints (46.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 2 | 15.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 7.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 6 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 |
Power Train: 6; Engine: 3; Air Bags: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Suspension: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1; Visibility/Wiper: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 4; 2019: 1; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10679062 · 2015-01-26 (January 26, 2015)
VEHICLE LOST ALL OIL SUPPOSEDLY DUE TO A FAULTY OIL FILTER HOUSING CAR STOPPED AND WAS SMOKING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,051 miles reported. Look up ODI 10679062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10700844 · 2015-03-21 (March 21, 2015)
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. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10700844 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10706147 · 2015-04-16 (April 16, 2015)
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. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10706147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10822384 · 2016-01-26 (January 26, 2016)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10822384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10957644 · 2017-02-28 (February 28, 2017)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10957644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11023971 · 2017-09-18 (September 18, 2017)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11023971 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11103580 · 2018-06-23 (June 23, 2018)
THE F56 HORN IS NOT SENSITIVE, AND REQUIRES AGGRESSIVE PUSHING TO SOUND, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11103580 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11120569 · 2018-08-17 (August 17, 2018)
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 H…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11120569 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
14V789000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Reported: 2014-12-15 (December 15, 2014)
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."
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V450000 · Structure:Body
Reported: 2015-07-17 (July 17, 2015)
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."
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V628000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2015-10-07 (October 7, 2015)
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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V739000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification | Seats
Reported: 2015-11-09 (November 9, 2015)
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.
Consequence: 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 .
NHTSA campaign record ↗