MINI Cooper 2011–2016 — technical service bulletin
Bulletin M510513 · NHTSA communication 10146803 · issued Dec 1, 2016
Technical service bulletin
communication type
Structure
component
2011–2016
model years
10
vehicle entries
Official summary
Creaking/Cracking Noise from the Upper Roof Area. A creaking noise can be heard from the rear roof area when driving on rough roads or uneven surfaces. The body shell roof support area, where the C-pillar is joined to the roof, is buckling, creating the noise.
Vehicles covered
What a TSB means. Technical service bulletins are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls, and repairs are not automatically free (warranty extensions are an exception worth checking). The full document is available via NHTSA’s vehicle lookup.