- The problem
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 X1 xDrive28i, X1 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i and X2 sDrive28i, 2020 MINI Clubman Cooper S All4, 2021 MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and Cooper S E) and MINI Hardtop 4 Door (Cooper and Cooper S) vehicles. Due to a problem with the rollover sensor within the air bag control unit, in the event of a rollover crash, the head air bag, seat belt pretensioners and other safety systems, may not activate.
- The risk
- If the safety systems do not deploy as intended in a roll over crash, it may increase the risk of injury.
- The fix
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began July 17, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
Vehicle safety record
2020 Mini Cooper S Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 5 complaints about the 2020 Mini Cooper S with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (2) and the acceleration & cruise control (1). Those complaints describe 1 crash and 1 injury. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in May 2020 for the air bag / restraint control module. For comparison, the 2019 has 4 and the 2021 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Cooper S year, for its age
#218 most complained-about 2020 vehicle
- Complaints
- 5
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2020 Mini Cooper S problems
Share of all 5 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2020 Mini Cooper S recalls 2
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and JCW vehicles. The rear side trim panels may have been assembled without a crash pad. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
- The risk
- Without a crash pad, rear seat passengers would have an increased risk of injury in the event of a side impact crash.
- The fix
- MINI will notify owners, and MINI dealers will install crash pads, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2019. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
What owners say
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5 complaints about the 2020 Mini Cooper S
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
I was pulling into a parking spot slowly and all of the sudden the car took off and took off and I couldn't stop and when I tried to sped hard on the break it wouldn't work and I lost control and my car wouldn't stop until it crashed into another vehicle that was sitting in another parking spot.
The contact owns a 2020 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the power steering feature malfunctioned, causing the steering wheel to become difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 25,500. The VIN was not available.
The tires on this vehicle have blown out 3 times in the 9 months we have owned this car. Another tire (a fourth incident) had a bubble that was replaced before it blew out. All incidents were separate times. The dealer and bmw will do nothing. All blow outs were on the highway traveling about 60 mph.
During a rain shower, drove at about 15mph into roughly 4" of water gathered on the shoulder of an access road adjacent to the highway and the engine stalled. Would not restart. Puddle of water was not high enough to breach the cabin - running boards were still above water and the curb adjacent to the street was not submerged. Car would not start and transmission locked up. Bmw roadside assistance contacted and advised not to start; tow truck had difficulty loading onto the flatbed because the electrical system had malfunctioned in the electric convertible top and was overriding the ability to put the car into neutral. *Tr
When sitting in drivers seat ( I am 5ft. 1 In tall) and the convertible top is open, I can not see through the rear view mira because the convertible top folded is blocking my vision. My seat is at highest position. Just as point of reference I had a 2012 mini conv. And this was not a problem. Because of this I had to take the car back to the dealer and get another vehicle which cost me in excess of $5000 as my 3 day old car was considered used with 91 miles on it. My husband who is 5'9" tall tried it and had...
Read the full complaint
some visibility but very limited. This is a dangerous thing and should have been corrected by mini. Either the mechanism or the fabric used has to be changed to allow the top to retract out of sight. This does not matter if you are moving or standing still, and could cause the drive to easily have an accident because they can't see what is behind them.
Mini Cooper S: every year compared
All Cooper S years2020 Mini Cooper S vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Mini Cooper S | 5 | 2 | F | |
| 2020 Mini Countryman | 6 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 2020 Mini Countryman SE | 6 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2020 Mini Cooper | 6 | 2 | B | Compare |
| 2020 Mini Cooper S Clubman | 1 | 1 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2020 Mini Cooper S
Does the 2020 Mini Cooper S have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2020 Mini Cooper S: air bag / restraint control module (May 2020); structure (August 2019). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Mini Cooper S?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (2), acceleration & cruise control (1), steering (1).
How many complaints has the 2020 Mini Cooper S had?
5 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on December 19, 2019 and the latest on June 25, 2025. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 1 injury and 0 deaths.
Is the 2020 Mini Cooper S a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 23 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Mini Cooper S year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Mini Cooper S years have the most complaints?
2004 (529), 2015 (71), 2010 (59). See every Mini Cooper S year compared.
What should I do if my 2020 Mini Cooper S has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data