MINI bulletin M120615
What it says"ENGINE POWER REDUCTION WITH "CLUTCH DAMAGED"" FAULTS STORED This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI M12 06 15 dated July 2015. NHTSA’s full summary ↓
MINI filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Oct 1, 2016, received Nov 5, 2018, about the power train — 4 documents under this number. It names 4 model years (2016–2017). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.
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What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communication"ENGINE POWER REDUCTION WITH "CLUTCH DAMAGED"" FAULTS STORED This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI M12 06 15 dated July 2015. A drivetrain malfunction check control message is displayed, prompting the customer to contact the dealer for a service visit. F54, F55, F56, F57Target Integration level: F056-16-11-501 or higherThe vehicle drives normally, but fault(s) for a damaged clutch are stored in the DME. ? 1D3101 - Clutch: Damaged, transmittable torque too low ? 1D3201 - Clutch: Severely damaged, transmittable torque too low CAUSE 1. The DME software diagnostic for detecting excessive clutch slip is too sensitive. 2. The clutch is damaged."
Documents filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M120615 | Service bulletin | Oct 1, 2016 | 10146924 | not found |
| M120615 | Service bulletin | Jul 1, 2015 | 10147220 | not found |
| M120615 | Service bulletin | Jun 1, 2015 | 10147741 | not found |
| M120615 | Service bulletin | May 1, 2015 | 10147160 | not found |
The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. A PDF link is shown only once NHTSA’s own server has been seen to serve that document; the rest are checked over the following nights. Quote the number at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
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Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themA vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
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What owners reported
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseOwners of the 4 model years this bulletin names have filed 126 complaints with NHTSA since 2015. 71 of them name Engine, Electrical System, Power Train — the same broad component group this bulletin is filed under. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so that means the same area of the vehicle, not necessarily the same fault.
The contact owns a 2017 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine was vibrating abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the passenger’s side engine mount needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.
2017 MINI Cooper · Engine · filed with NHTSA Mar 9, 2026 · ODI 11723036
Rear passenger tail light casing/bucket had burnt connections. Replaced casing/bucket and bulb. Worked for short time, tail light failed a second time. Casing/bucket & bulb replaced, again worked for short time and then went out. Took vehicle to another mechanic after passenger side headlight failed.
2016 MINI Cooper · Electrical System · filed with NHTSA Jul 31, 2024 · ODI 11605757
The contact owns a 2017 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle rolled backwards. The contact applied the parking brake. There was an abnormal scraping noise detected while starting the vehicle. The roll back warning light was illuminated.
2017 MINI Cooper · Power Train · filed with NHTSA Feb 27, 2023 · ODI 11509250
A complaint is one owner’s account, not a defect finding, and a bulletin is not a recall. Nothing here says this bulletin was issued because of these complaints, or that the repair it describes fixed them. Complaint files on this site begin in 2015.
More bulletins about the power train
Source: same model, same component group5 other manufacturer communications filed against these MINI models under the same component group (power train), newest first.
| Number | Kind | Dated | NHTSA’s summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2516900100 | Warranty extension | Jul 30, 2025 | For this vehicle, the automatic transmission limited warranty for the vehicle Selector Lever Magnetic Shift Interlock Mechanism… |
| M060925 | Other | May 7, 2025 | Inspection and Return - Output Drive Repair Kit |
| M310124 | Service bulletin | Sep 24, 2024 | During inspection and/or diagnosis there is noticeable dirt/grease buildup on the axles near the inner and/or outer CV boots. |
| M230108 | Service bulletin | Nov 1, 2018 | "MANUAL TRANSMISSION - STIFF DIAGONAL GEARSHIFT LEVER MOVEMENT. The customer may complain of a ""stiff diagonal shift""… |
| M310316M0604 | Service bulletin | Apr 1, 2016 | Mini parts logistics TEC 26 turbo charger return |
Quote the number at the service desk. It is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Every manufacturer communication NHTSA holds for MINI, by the number printed on the letter.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is MINI M120615 a recall?
No. A service bulletin is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.
Is the M120615 repair free?
Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way. Every BMW warranty extension on file lists the ones BMW has filed.
Which vehicles does M120615 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 4 model years: 2017 MINI Clubman, 2016 MINI Clubman, 2017 MINI Cooper, 2016 MINI Cooper. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.