North American Motoring

Mini Cooper 2014-Present: Recalls and TSBs

Recalls and TSBs (Technical Service Bulletins) are getting more and more common these days. Stay informed and keep your ride safe using our handy roundup of all the common problems your Mini Cooper might face down the road.

By Brett Foote - June 29, 2016

This article applies to the Mini Cooper (2014-Present).

If you happen to watch the news, you already know that recalls for modern cars are issued at an alarming rate these days. Many of the problems that have popped up in recent years are serious ones that can result in injuries or even worse. Adding to this nightmare are technical service bulletins, which are problems that can be almost as severe, yet don't garner the same attention that a recall does. It's a good idea, obviously, to stay on top of any recalls and TSBs issued for your car instead of waiting on the media to cover them. If you drive a Mini Cooper, here is everything you need to know at the moment to keep your family and yourself safe.

Recalls and TSBs

Crankshaft Bearings

The crankshaft bearing recall is quite a doozy, with many owners facing extremely premature wear and failure that can lead to some pretty extensive damage. In some cases, the crank can become scored and damaged to the point where Mini has simply instructed the dealership to replace the entire engine. If your car is effected by this recall, the dealership can check it easily by simply pulling the oil pan and inspecting the crank for damage, then replacing the bearing and hardware, if you're lucky.

Mini Cooper crankshaft bearing recall
Figure 1. Some recalls, like the bearing issue, can lead to extensive issues and require extensive repairs.

Software Update

Some owners experienced a few quirky issues that were software related, leading to a major update from Mini. Some of these issues revolved around the car failing to give control of music when a phone is plugged into the USB port until the phone was rebooted. This problem was unique to 3rd generation Mini's, and unfortunately the update must be done at the dealership and can take up to five hours.

software update in Mini Cooper
Figure 2. A software update was issued after a variety of issues popped up.

Spare Tire Fastener Recall

A little less than 6,000 2014 Mini Cooper 2-doors were recalled after spare tires were found to be falling out of the cars. The problem lied in the nut used to secure the spare tire, which wasn't self-locking as intended. Road vibrations would loosen the nut over time, and eventually it would fall off, which could obviously lead to some serious damage at highway speeds.

Tires falling off Mini Cooper
Figure 3. Inadequate fasteners led to spare tires actually falling out of the car.

Side Impact Protection Recall

Over 30,000 2014/15 Mini Coopers were recalled due to side impact protection that failed to meet federal requirements for rear seat passengers. Rear seat passengers were found to be in danger in the event of a crash, though no incidents of this have been reported. The dealership will add more energy absorbing material in between the rear interior panels and the exterior of affected models.

Inadequate side impact on 2014 to 2015 Mini Cooper
Figure 4. Inadequate side impact protection led to a major recall for 2014 to 2015 Mini Coopers.

Bad Air Smell TSB

Certain 2014/15 model Mini Coopers featured a defective coating on the A/C evaporator, which would allow bacteria to form and cause some pretty bad smells to come through the car's HVAC system. If you're facing this problem, the dealership will replace the entire evaporator, eliminating that lovely musty odor that you're probably not too fond of.

Figure 5. Defective coatings on the A/C evaporator led to some bad smells inside some 3rd gen Mini's.

Related Discussions