2015 MINI Cooper
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 17 of 74 complaints (23%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 47 in 2014 to 74 in 2015.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | vs. 2015 Subcompact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,400–2,650 | 2,350–2,750 | 2,400–2,850 | 2,400–3,000 | 2,400–3,000 | |
| Combined MPG | 29–32 | 28–33 | 27–32 | 26–32 | 26–32 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 26–29 / 34–36 | 24–29 / 34–39 | 24–29 / 33–38 | 23–28 / 32–38 | 23–28 / 32–38 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 278–314 | 271–320 | 272–328 | 277–336 | 281–337 | |
| Complaints filed | 71 | 47 | 74 | 50 | 33 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2015 MINI Cooper have?
6 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2015 MINI Cooper?
Engine: 17 of 74 NHTSA complaints (23%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2015 MINI Cooper get?
EPA rates it 27–32 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2015 MINI Cooper?
EPA estimates $2,400–$2,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (16)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters | 27 mpg | 35 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,600 | 292 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters | 25 mpg | 33 mpg (low) | 28 mpg | $2,750 | 316 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 26 mpg | 33 mpg (low) | 29 mpg | $2,650 | 304 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 25 mpg | 33 mpg (low) | 28 mpg | $2,750 | 316 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 26 mpg | 34 mpg | 29 mpg | $2,650 | 306 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters | 29 mpg (high) | 36 mpg | 32 mpg (high) | $2,400 (low) | 280 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters | 26 mpg | 34 mpg | 29 mpg | $2,650 | 306 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 27 mpg | 33 mpg (low) | 29 mpg | $2,650 | 302 g/mi |
| Configuration 9 | Automatic (S6) | 3 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 27 mpg | 36 mpg | 31 mpg | $2,500 | 287 g/mi |
| Configuration 10 | Manual 6-spd | 3 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 29 mpg (high) | 38 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | $2,400 (low) | 272 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 12 | Manual 6-spd | 3 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 28 mpg | 38 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | $2,400 (low) | 275 g/mi |
| Configuration 13 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 25 mpg | 33 mpg (low) | 28 mpg | $2,750 | 315 g/mi |
| Configuration 14 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 24 mpg (low) | 33 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | $2,850 (high) | 328 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 15 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 25 mpg | 33 mpg (low) | 28 mpg | $2,750 | 315 g/mi |
| Configuration 16 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 24 mpg (low) | 33 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | $2,850 (high) | 328 g/mi (high) |
Show 1 more configuration
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 11 | Automatic (S6) | 3 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 27 mpg | 36 mpg | 31 mpg | $2,500 | 287 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 17 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (6)
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION; SEATS · Campaign 15V739000 · Nov 9, 2015
Defect: 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 .
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 15V628000 · Oct 7, 2015
Defect: 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.
STRUCTURE:BODY · Campaign 15V450000 · Jul 17, 2015
Defect: 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.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · Campaign 15V034000 · Jan 26, 2015
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 MINI Cooper Hardtop two door vehicles manufactured December 1, 2013, to December 14, 2014. 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."
Consequence: The maximum weight listed on the label is incorrect (too low) and therefore does not comply with Federal Regulations.
Remedy: 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. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) · Campaign 14V789000 · Dec 15, 2014
Defect: 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.
SEATS · Campaign 14V721000 · Nov 10, 2014
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door vehicles manufactured August 12, 2014, to September 2, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the driver and front passenger seatback adjustment mechanism may not be fully engaged.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.