NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
53 reports76,000 miles · May 9, 2018
EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT UNLATCHED THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MINI OF BALTIMORE COUNTY (720 KENILWORTH DR., TOWSON, MD 21204, (443) 798-3461)…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT UNLATCHED THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MINI OF BALTIMORE COUNTY (720 KENILWORTH DR., TOWSON, MD 21204, (443) 798-3461) WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT NO VIN NUMBER UPDATED 8/30/18*JB
NHTSA ODI #11092683
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineSuspension
I KEEP HAVING PROBLEMS ELECTRIC PROBLEMS ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON COIL BROKE BROKE DOWN WON'T START
NHTSA ODI #11083212
92,800 miles · Mar 5, 2018
Engine
I'M JUST NOTICING A COOLANT LEAK PUDDLING UP UNDER FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS THE THERMOSTAT OR IT'S HOUSING OR BOTH.. MY ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT'S RUNNING WITH NO OIL. I GO TO CHECK THE DIPSTICK AND THE OIL AT THE VERY END OF IT SEEMS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCURATELY READ, BECAUSE IT'S NOT UNIFORM IN IT'S COATING AT THE TIP OF IT. …
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I'M JUST NOTICING A COOLANT LEAK PUDDLING UP UNDER FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS THE THERMOSTAT OR IT'S HOUSING OR BOTH.. MY ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT'S RUNNING WITH NO OIL. I GO TO CHECK THE DIPSTICK AND THE OIL AT THE VERY END OF IT SEEMS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCURATELY READ, BECAUSE IT'S NOT UNIFORM IN IT'S COATING AT THE TIP OF IT. LIKE IF IT WAS SPLASHED ON. NOT SURE IF THE AUXILIARY COOLING SYSTEM IS EVEN WORKING ANYMORE, WHICH USED TO RUN FOR A MINUTE OR TWO AFTER ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I'M ADDING THE OEM SPECIFIED COOLANT ALONG WITH WATER, 50/50, EVERY DAY NOW, BECAUSE THE RESERVOIR SHOWS IT'S LOSS OF COOLANT. VIN CHECK SHOWS NO RECALLS, BUT I'M HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS THE RECALLS. I JUST WANT MY VEHICLE RUNNING LIKE IT WAS WHEN I FIRST GOT. I BEGAN FINANCE ON THE VEHICLE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, AND I STILL OWE 16K ON IT. I SHOULDN'T BE WORRIED ABOUT THE CAR DYING OUT ON ME ALREADY. BAD ENOUGH I WORK 35 MINUTES AWAY AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION INCLUDING HELP FROM ANYONE IS ALSO PRETTY MUCH IMPOSSIBLE. IT'S STRESSING ME OUT BIG TIME. I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET FIRED. WHERE I WORK, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT MY ISSUES. I ALSO REQUIRE AN IID EQUIPPED VEHICLE, SO RENTALS ARE OUT OF THE QUESTION, OTHERWISE, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE HERE WRITING THIS MESSAGE! THANK YOU. I REALLY FEEL UNSAFE BEING ON THE HIGHWAY AS WHO KNOWS IF MY CAR'S ENGINE EVEN HAS OIL. OR IF THE COOLANT HOSES WILL JUST BLOW OFF. EITHER WAY, I FEEL LIKE I'M RIDING WITH DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. I TRIED TO BABY THIS CAR DRIVING, BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD A 16K BROKEN CAR. I FEEL TRAPPED.
NHTSA ODI #11076410
41,000 miles · Feb 19, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL RAIL DEVELOPED A CRACK AT A BRAZEN JOINT. HIGH PRESSURE FUEL WAS THEN BEEN RELEASED IN THE VICINITY OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. STRONG FUEL SMELL IN CABIN AND NEAR VEHICLE. NO FIRE OR DAMAGE RESULTED. VEHICLE REPAIRED AT OWNERS EXPENSE.
NHTSA ODI #11073632
67,000 miles · Nov 21, 2017
Unknown Or Other
WHILE DRIVING EAST ON INTERSTATE 40, I WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES EAST OF ASHEVILLE, NC WHEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD BOOM THAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. IT THEN SOUNDED AS IF A WINDOW WERE OPEN AND I COULD FEEL OUTSIDE AIR, THEN I SOON DISCOVERED A LARGE HOLE IN MY SUNROOF.
NHTSA ODI #11047705
Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2017
Engine
I PURCHASED THE USED 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN, I DROVE IT FOR 84 DAYS, AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR THE ENGINE SUDDENLY WENT DEAD ON THE ROAD AND STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM AFTER TWO WEEKS THEY SAID THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED IT TO DESTROY THE ENGINE, NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR T…
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I PURCHASED THE USED 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN, I DROVE IT FOR 84 DAYS, AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR THE ENGINE SUDDENLY WENT DEAD ON THE ROAD AND STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM AFTER TWO WEEKS THEY SAID THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED IT TO DESTROY THE ENGINE, NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE NEW ENGINE. I CHECKED ON LINE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS WITH TIMING CHAIN ON THESE CARS, MINI SAID THEY HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PREVIOUS MODEL CARS THAT MADE AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM, APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST IN THE NEWER MODELS.
NHTSA ODI #11046285
78,500 miles · Jun 15, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND INSTEAD LURCHED AND CHOKED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY BROKE FREE OF ITS HOUSING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR TO AN OFF-RAMP THAT SLOPED DOWNHILL TO GET TO SAFETY.
NHTSA ODI #10874401
29,952 miles · May 27, 2016
Engine
MY 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN WITH 30,000 MILES IS REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP - BOTH OF WHICH WERE RECALLED AND REPLACED ON THE 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THERE ARE NOT ANY PARTS IN THE UNITED STATES CURRENTLY TO FIX THE CAR. WE WILL BE WITHOUT OUR CAR FOR NEARLY 3 TO 4 WEEKS WHILE WE WAIT FOR TH…
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MY 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN WITH 30,000 MILES IS REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP - BOTH OF WHICH WERE RECALLED AND REPLACED ON THE 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THERE ARE NOT ANY PARTS IN THE UNITED STATES CURRENTLY TO FIX THE CAR. WE WILL BE WITHOUT OUR CAR FOR NEARLY 3 TO 4 WEEKS WHILE WE WAIT FOR THESE PARTS AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO DRIVE OUR CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER SAID TOUGH LUCK.
NHTSA ODI #10871243
112,000 miles · Mar 31, 2016
Engine
TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED CAUSING TIMING TO BE OFF BY 75MM, THIS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE ECCENTRIC SHAFT AND TIMING CHAIN. ENGINE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED, UPON INSPECTION AT MINI DEALER DETERMINED THE ABOVE CONDITION OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #10852760
44,000 miles · Mar 9, 2016
EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOSE PIPE AND FREEZE PLUG OVERHEATED AND MELTED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO REQUIRE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
NHTSA ODI #10845785