Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

1 reports

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35,000 miles · Oct 28, 2011

Power Train

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AT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES, CAR MADE HOWLING TYPE NOISE WHEN REACHED APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND THE NOISE BECAME VERY NOTICEABLY ONCE IT REACHED 60+ MPH. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER AT SOUTH BAY MINI TWICE, BOTH TIME SOUTH BAY CLAIMED THAT IT WAS 'TIRE' NOISE. TOOK THE CAR TO LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN DEALER, THEIR COMMENT WAS THE NOISE CAME FROM THE TRANSMISSION, ALTHOUGH THEY CAN NOT PINNED DOWN EXACTLY WHERE AS THE TRANSMISSION IS A CLOSED COMPARTMENT. EXTENDED WARRANTY (FIDELITY) REFUSED TO COVER COST OF REPLACEMENT AS THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY NEED THE DEALER TO TEAR APART TRANSMISSION COMPARTMENT AND IDENTIFY WHERE THE PROBLEM HAPPENED EXACTLY. DOWNTOWN DEALER REFUSED TO TEAR APART TRANSMISSION COMPARTMENT. CAR IS STILL HAVE NOT FAIL (AS OF 2011-10-28) BUT THE NOISE MAY (OR MAY NOT) CAUSE FAILURE AT ANYTIME GOING FORWARD. AS AN OWNER, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR KNOWING THAT IT MAY FAIL CAN CAUSE CASUALTY TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433102

Official recalls

15V205000 · Air Bags:frontal

Apr 6, 2015

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 MINI Cooper and Cooper S vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to November 28, 2006, and 2005-2008 MINI Cooper Convertible and Cooper S Convertible vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to July 31, 2008. Due to manufacturing, installation, and exposure issues, the front passenger seat occupant detection mat may not function properly and, as a result, the front passenger air bag may not deploy in a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An improperly functioning mat may cause the passenger frontal air bag to be inactive when the seat is occupied, and in the event of a crash, the air bag will not deploy, increasing the passenger's risk of injury.

Remedy: MINI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, free of charge. The recall began on October 12, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

07V533000 · Equipment:other:labels

Nov 20, 2007

CERTAIN CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, 'TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS.' THE STANDARD REQUIRES THAT THE TIRE SIZE AND CORRESPONDING TIRE PRESSURE BE INDICATED ON THE LABEL AND THE LABEL DOES NOT CORRESPOND TO THE ACTUAL TIRES MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: INCORRECT TIRE PRESSURE CAN CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR AND TIRE DAMAGE WHICH COULD LEAD TO UNFAVORABLE DRIVING CONDITIONS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH NEW TIRE INFORMATION PLACARDS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. AT THE CUSTOMER'S OPTION, A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MINI AT 1-866-275-6464.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.