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Campaign 21V554 Posted July 21, 2021 21,537 units

2021 MINI Cooper/Countryman Recall 21V554: Seat Belt

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published May 20, 2026

Recall 21V554 covers 21,537 2021 MINI vehicles for early passenger seat belt retractor deactivation. Repair is free at any franchised MINI dealer.

MINI recall 21V554 covers 21,537 2021 vehicles, including the Cooper Se, Countryman, and Cooper S Clubman, because the passenger seat belt Automatic Locking Retractor can deactivate before the belt webbing fully retracts. In a crash, a retractor that does not work as intended increases injury risk; the MINI dealer repair will be free once available.

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What's wrong?

The passenger seat safety belt retractor is the spool inside the seat belt assembly that pulls the belt back in and locks it when needed. On these 2021 vehicles, the Automatic Locking Retractor, or ALR, is the part that holds the belt in a locked mode after the belt is pulled out and allowed to retract. That locked mode is important when securing certain child restraints in the passenger seat.

The problem is that the ALR can switch off too early, before the belt webbing, the flat strap you pull across the passenger, has fully retracted. Once it switches off, the belt no longer stays in the locked child-restraint mode for the full retraction travel. That is why the passenger seat belt assembly does not meet the required occupant crash protection standard.

There is no warning sign before failure. An owner will not hear a noise, see a warning light, or feel a clear change in normal belt use before the locking function releases early.

Who's affected?

The shared detail is the passenger seat safety belt retractor, with affected models listed below by make and model.

2021 MINI Cooper Se seat belt
2021 BMW X1 seat belt
2021 BMW 530I seat belt
2021 BMW 228I seat belt
2021 BMW 330I seat belt
Units affected21,537

The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.

What's the safety risk?

During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not work as intended increases the risk of injury. If your VIN is included, schedule the dealer inspection for the seat belt retractors. Repair will be free at any franchised MINI dealer once available.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2021 MINI Cooper Se, X1, 530I, 228I, 330I, M2, X2, M235I, M340I, Countryman, Cooper S Clubman, M440I, 540I, Supra, Cooper, Cooper S, 330E, 430I, Z4, Phantom, Ghost, Cullinan, 230I, M3, M4, or M240I is included in this recall.
  2. Watch for the owner letter BMW mailed on September 3, 2021, if you have not received one.
  3. Contact a franchised MINI dealer and ask for the free seat belt retractor inspection and replacement that fixes the early ALR deactivation.
  4. Reference recall number 21V554 when you call, especially if you do not have the owner letter.
  5. Use extra care with child seats and passenger restraints until the inspection is complete.

What happens at the repair

At the dealer, a MINI technician inspects the passenger seat belt retractors and the related seat belt assemblies. The inspection checks whether the Automatic Locking Retractor releases before the belt webbing fully retracts. If a retractor fails that inspection, the technician replaces it. The final dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall. BMW mailed owner notification letters on September 3, 2021, and MINI customer service is listed for owner questions.

Timeline

July 21, 2021 NHTSA published the recall
September 3, 2021 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 21V554?

Recall 21V554 covers 21,537 2021 MINI, BMW, Rolls-Royce, and Toyota vehicles with passenger seat belt Automatic Locking Retractors that deactivate early before the webbing fully retracts. The defect fails federal occupant crash protection requirements. Dealers will inspect the seat belt retractors and replace them for free when needed.

What should I do if my 2021 MINI Cooper Se is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 21V554. If it is, contact a franchised MINI dealer to schedule the seat belt retractor inspection. Reference recall number 21V554 when you call. The inspection and needed replacement are free.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 21V554, dealers will inspect the passenger seat belt retractors and replace the affected retractors free of charge when replacement is needed.

What is the safety risk?

The safety risk is higher injury risk in a crash. If the passenger seat belt Automatic Locking Retractor does not work as intended, the belt assembly does not provide the required occupant crash protection. The dealer repair path is an inspection and free replacement when needed.

When were owners notified about recall 21V554?

Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. If you own a 2021 MINI Cooper Se or another listed model and never received a letter, check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included before calling the dealer.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V554000
MINI customer service1-800-525-7417
NHTSA recall #21V554
NHTSA recall # (full)21V554000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →