2015 MINI Cooper: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2015 MINI Cooper: 6 recalls, 56 owner complaints and up to 32 mpg combined.
Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Seats Vehicle recall #14V721000 · 2014 · 846 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the driver and front passenger seatback adjustment mechanism May not be fully engaged.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #14V789000 · 2014 · 1,928 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Equipment Vehicle recall #15V034000 · 2015 · 13,130 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: The maximum weight listed on the label is incorrect (too low) and therefore does not comply with federal regulations.
The fix: 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.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #15V450000 · 2015 · 30,456 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: If the side impact performance requirements are not met, rear seat passengers May be at a higher risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #15V628000 · 2015 · 6,073 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Airbags, Seats Vehicle recall #15V739000 · 2015 · 38 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Inappropriate air bag activation/deactivation can increase the risk of occupant injury in the event of a vehicle crash.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 1 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (14): the most common themes are electrical failure (3), warning light on (2).
- Fuel & propulsion (11): the most common themes are fire / smoke (2).
- Transmission & drivetrain (10): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (6), warning light on (4).
- Electrical (10): the most common themes are warning light on (4), electrical failure (3), door / lock issues (2).
The 2015 MINI Cooper has 56 owner complaints, ranking #12 of 26 Cooper model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 86). Complaints peaked in 2022 (9 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 23,500 miles. Neighboring years: 2014 (34 complaints, 7 recalls), 2016 (28 complaints, 1 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 36 | 32 | Premium |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 35 | 30 | Premium |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 33 | 29 | Premium |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 33 | 29 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2015 MINI Cooper.
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FAQ
Does the 2015 MINI Cooper have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2015 MINI Cooper. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2015 MINI Cooper problems?
Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (14), fuel & propulsion (11), transmission & drivetrain (10).
What gas mileage does the 2015 MINI Cooper get?
EPA ratings run up to 32 mpg combined (1.6 L, Manual 6-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2015 MINI Cooper repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.