2015 MINI Countryman

Spontaneous engine fire of 2015 Mini Cooper S Countryman while parked and not used for 48 hours prior. The fire department guessed it was an electrical issue. It was put out with water and a fire extinguisher but the engine was severely damaged, melted plastic everywhere, electrical wiring burned completely and more. The engine appears unfixable, the front window was cracked by the heat and the hood with paint was burnt.

NHTSA ID

11644910

Incident

Feb 25, 2025

The car starts but within a few second, the dashboard starts flashing with all of the warning lights and sounds. The speedometer and RPM needles move up and down frantically. I can drive the car, but I cannot tell at what speed I am going and if I put a turning signal I am not always able to stop it from flashing. Mini service found that the fuse box part # Main Fuse Box – Mini (61-35-9-813-622) that control the electric component of the car is defective. They also told me that the part is in back order worldwide for 11 months and they cannot get it for me, but they can place an order for it. I found out from MINI directly that there are 400 of that part in back order. My car is now in my driveway for the last two months and still no news about receiving the part. My registration is due for renewal in November, and it will not pass safety inspection, and I will end up with a lemon in my driveway. I still have a loan with Mini and I cannot even sell my car to pay for the remainder of that loan.

NHTSA ID

11617665

Incident

Aug 2, 2024

The vehicle shifts between reverse, neutral and drive without the automatic shift knob being pressed. This is an absolute safety issues, since it can shift at speed, causing a major accident. This is an ongoing issue. But don’t see a recall for it. I’ve contacted Mini of San Francisco.

NHTSA ID

11617049

Incident

Sep 1, 2024

The vanos solenoid failed in the 2015 Mini Cooper, and immediately after the Alternator failed. My safety was put at risk in multiple ways: 1 - The engine was in a non-drivable state 2 - Significant smell gasoline was coming from the car 3 - Car had to be towed to a shop to determine what failed 4 - The shop fixed the vanos solenoid The problem was confirmed by the independent service center. When the vanos solenoid failed, the Check Engine and Oil lights came on. By the time the lights came on however, the vehicle was undrivable. When the alternator failed, the battery light came on. Repair of the vanos solenoid was $279.44 Towing to the shop was $155.00

NHTSA ID

11581600

Incident

Feb 22, 2024

Second failure of the FRM electrical board on the drivers side (part # 61356827070) within a year. I have only owned the vehicle for 14 months. Mini dealer advised this is known problem - water entering the vehicle causing corrosion and malfunction of the FRM board. I was advised there IS a recall for this problem on several other Mini Cooper models but not for the Countryman S (vehicle I own). Estimate for repair is $1939 for the FRM board including labor AND $3,000 for the "water test" to determine where the leak is coming from. My son was driving the vehicle when electrical problem started. Driver window went down and could not be raised, turn signals would not operate and headlights could not be operated then went on and could not be turned (even when the key was removed) off which killed the battery. Vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle is currently at the Mini dealer in Latham NY until we can figure out what to do. Certified Dealer technician confirmed FRM board malfunction advising it could not be repaired and had to be replaced. There was no indication or warning lights prior to the board malfunction.

NHTSA ID

11569589

Incident

Jan 18, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Mini Cooper S Countryman. The contact stated that the front driver's side door failed to latch securely. The contact had to hold the door closed while driving to the destination. The contact stated that the front driver's side door latch had previously been replaced five years prior to the failure; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front driver's side door cable and latch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 83,905.

NHTSA ID

11556437

Incident

Nov 21, 2023

Mileage

83,905 mi

Our 2015 Mini Cooper countryman spontaneously combusted. It started with a cruise control warning and then a notice that the care was drivable but to take it to a dealership. The car’s engine began smoking and shortly after stopping the car became engulfed in smoke and then combusted. The car was completely damaged by the fire. The car has been towed to Crossroads Towing and Recovery Services in Ft. Collins, CO.

NHTSA ID

11531494

Incident

Jul 10, 2023

I opened door in freezing conditions and the door refused to open. Then once I got it opened it would not shut or remain latched with an pressure. Problems have been identified by rusted cables from door latch to door handle. These devices should have the ability to hold a load once it’s latched, especially in rear where children can do kid things.

NHTSA ID

11493907

Incident

Nov 16, 2022

For the eligible vehicles listed above, the limited warranty for the vehicle’s Selector Lever Magnetic Shift Interlock Mechanism (Gearshift lug assembly portion) has been extended to: 10 years/120,000 miles as determined by the vehicle’s original in-service date, When a gearshift lug repair kit (item # 2) installation procedure is required to be performed to address a displayed Check Control message (CCM) that states: "P not engaged - secure vehicle with parking brake against rolling away."

Customer complains of a musty odor or damp front footwell carpet.

Cavity protection applied to underside of the hood is leaking out onto the wheel arch trim and grille.

MINI electrical systems have continued to develop over the past few years. As a result, the demand on the batteries has increased. Breakdowns due to an empty battery or problems in the vehicles electrical system can have various causes, most of which are not due to the battery itself. For this reason, a battery replacement will permanently eliminate the problem only in the rarest of cases. The energy diagnosis test module helps to localize these causes. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of a discharged battery cannot be identified. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time, it is very important that the diagnostic test plan is performed to completion; with all results taken into consideration.

New RDC wheel electronics will be introduced with future generation MINI models. The new wheel electronics are identified as Huf Generation 5. These new wheel electronics will need to be programmed using the new tool when replaced or when depressurized (0 psi) for more than 2 minutes.

N18 THERMOSTAT WITH THERMOSTAT HOUSING: LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS/ This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI M01 02 18 dated May 2018.