Recall 19V634 covers 683 2020 MINI Jcw, Cooper, and Cooper S vehicles for missing rear side crash pads. Free repair at a franchised MINI dealer.
MINI is recalling 683 2020 Hardtop 2-Door Jcw, Cooper, and Cooper S vehicles because rear side trim panels lack a crash pad. Without that pad, rear seat passengers face a higher risk of injury in a side impact crash, and MINI dealers will install the missing crash pads free of charge.
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What's wrong?
A crash pad is a hidden energy-absorbing piece behind the rear side trim panel. That trim lines the rear passenger area, and the pad helps the interior structure manage force in a side impact. It is part of the side-impact protection system the vehicle is certified to meet.
On affected 2020 MINI Jcw, Cooper, and Cooper S vehicles, the rear side trim panels were built without those crash pads. BMW traced the problem to a Bills-of-Material releasing issue: the production release did not list the crash pads, so the supplier made the panels without them. The result is a vehicle that does not fully conform to FMVSS 214 side impact protection requirements.
This is not a wear item, and it is not a part an owner sees during normal use. The vehicle can look and feel normal because the missing pad sits behind interior trim. There is no warning sign before failure.
Who's affected?
Spans Jcw, Cooper, and Cooper S versions for the 2020 model year, all tied to the same body or structural component.
| 2020 MINI Jcw | body or structural component |
|---|---|
| 2020 MINI Cooper | body or structural component |
| 2020 MINI Cooper S | body or structural component |
| Units affected | 683 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and MINI model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
A missing crash pad leaves rear seat passengers with less side-impact protection and increases the risk of injury in a side impact crash. If your VIN is included, limit rear-seat use until the repair is complete and schedule service soon. Repair is free at any franchised MINI dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2020 MINI Jcw, Cooper, or Cooper S is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised MINI dealer to schedule the free rear-side-trim crash-pad installation that adds the missing crash pads.
- Bring the recall notice if MINI mailed one. If not, reference recall number 19V634 when you call.
- Avoid carrying rear-seat passengers until the crash pads are installed, since the missing pads increase injury risk in a side impact crash.
- Call MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525 with questions about the repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a MINI technician installs the crash pads missing from the rear side trim panels. The recall repair is free and parts and labor are covered. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid for this condition are handled through the MINI New Vehicle Limited Warranty program, not through a separate reimbursement program. If you have paperwork for a related repair, ask the service desk how the warranty coverage applies to your vehicle.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| August 28, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 28, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| August 28, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| October 11, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
| October 16, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V634?
Recall 19V634 covers 683 2020 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and Jcw vehicles built without crash pads in the rear side trim panels. That means the vehicles do not meet the side-impact protection standard, and MINI dealers install the missing crash pads for free.
What should I do if my 2020 MINI Jcw, Cooper, or Cooper S is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 19V634. If it is, call a franchised MINI dealer to schedule the crash-pad installation. Reference recall 19V634 when you call, or contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and MINI's remedy says dealers will install the missing crash pads free of charge. The free repair applies at any franchised MINI dealer.
What is the safety risk in recall 19V634?
The safety risk is higher injury risk for rear seat passengers in a side impact crash. Recall 19V634 says the rear side trim panels were assembled without crash pads, which reduces the intended side-impact protection for occupants seated in the rear.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V634000 |
|---|---|
| MINI customer service | 1-866-825-1525 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V634 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V634000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →