After crash testing by NHTSA, BMW is recalling 2014-2015 Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S Hardtop 2-door cars and 2015 Mini John Cooper Works Hardtop 2-door models because they do not meet the side-impact performance requirements for the rear seat passengers. The Mini Cooper models fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 214, “Side Impact Protection.”
On July 1 and 2, 2015, NHTSA conducted FMVSS 214 compliance tests involving a Model Year 2015 Mini 2 Door Hardtop, Cooper model and a Model Year 2015 Mini 2 Door Hardtop, Cooper S model. The test results for the Cooper model vehicle met the requirements in FMVSS 214 Section 7.2.6(b). However, the Cooper S model vehicle exceeded the specified maximum T12 acceleration value (82g) by 0.94g.
After a BMW review, 2014-15 Mini 2-door Hardtop vehicles in the Cooper, Cooper S models and Model Year 2015 John Cooper Works models, the German automaker conceded they may not fully conform to FMVSS 214.
In the required NHTSA filing BMW said that additional energy absorption material between the rear interior side panels and the exterior vehicle body will be installed. Vehicles produced prior to May 15, 2014 will be further modified by adding a small foam patch between the rear interior side panels and the exterior vehicle body.
