Mini Clubman and Countryman Trailer Hitch May Separate

NHTSA campaign 17E051000 · Reported Sep 17, 2017 · Curt Manufacturing LLC

medium How serious is it? About this label

A trailer hitch that sags or separates can increase the risk of a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	17E051000
Reported to NHTSA	Sep 17, 2017
Manufacturer	Curt Manufacturing LLC
Part affected	Trailer Hitches
Vehicles covered	2 model/year combinations, model years 2018
Do-not-drive advisory	No
Park-outside advisory	No
Repair	Free at any franchised dealer

What's wrong, in plain English

Some trailer hitches installed on Mini Clubman and Countryman vehicles may not have enough support where they attach to the vehicle. Under certain loads, the hitch can sag, and in some cases it could separate from the vehicle entirely.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
2. Contact your Mini dealer or Curt customer service at 1-800-798-0813.
3. The replacement hitch is free.

Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?

Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 17E051000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (2)

2018 MINI Clubman
2018 MINI Countryman

Who to contact

MINI — official MINI recall lookup

Customer service: 1-866-275-6464

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

Other MINI Countryman recalls

May 15, 2024MINI Countryman Armrest May Detach in Crashhigh
Feb 12, 2024BMW, Mini Brake System May Lose Power Assisthigh
Jul 21, 2021BMW, MINI and Toyota Supra passenger seat belt retractor faultmedium
Sep 30, 2020BMW, MINI Hybrid Battery Debris Fire Riskcritical
Aug 18, 2020BMW and Mini Plug-In Hybrid Battery Fire Riskcritical
Aug 23, 2018Mini Countryman Missing Fuel Pump Crash Platecritical

All 8 Countryman recalls

Official notice

Component: TRAILER HITCHES
Summary: Curt Manufacturing LLC (Curt) is recalling certain Class 1 trailer hitches, part number 11451, sold for installation on 2016-2018 Mini Cooper Clubman and Countryman vehicles. The vehicles may have inadequate structure points for the trailer hitch mounting, causing the hitch to sag under to certain loads and possibly separate from the vehicle.
Safety risk: If the trailer hitch sags or separates from the vehicle, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Curt will notify owners, and dealers will provide a replacement hitch, free of charge. The recall began on October 20, 2017. Owners may contact Curt customer service at 1-800-798-0813.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.