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2012 Mini Cooper

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Mini Cooper do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 40.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

38 reports with mileage · 28 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports7 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine complaints

17 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2021
EngineFuel/propulsion System

This car was maintained, by Mini and BMW authorized mechanics and only had OEM parts installed and followed management of vehicle as directed by manufacturer, throughout its history. It was always driven and kept in moderate weather conditions, no extreme heat, cold, wet, or speeds. Used almost daily for 30-60 minute commutes. J…

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This car was maintained, by Mini and BMW authorized mechanics and only had OEM parts installed and followed management of vehicle as directed by manufacturer, throughout its history. It was always driven and kept in moderate weather conditions, no extreme heat, cold, wet, or speeds. Used almost daily for 30-60 minute commutes. Just after 100K miles, total engine failure was suddenly experienced on the freeway, due to combustion in two valves, damaging two cylinders and sudden leaking of the exhaust system under the hood. The manufacturer, BWM, has been shown evidence of malfunctioning of the four cylinder engine and will not show evidence of their grounds for why they will not take responsibility.

NHTSA ODI #11424692

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFire

BOUGHT MINI FROM CARVANA A JANUARY 2020 AND HAVE HAD TOO MANY PROBLEMS. CAR OVERHEATED ON 48, HAD 2 NEW CYLINDERS PUT IN, 2 WEEKS LATER, DUE TO MANY NOTABLE PROBLEMS THIS CAR HAS HAD, ALL COOLANT LEAKED OUT AND WAS QUOTED BY MINI DEALERSHIP $9,000 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSED BY A RECALL NOT LISTED FOR MY YEAR

NHTSA ODI #11366813

Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2019
Engine

MY MOTHER WHO OWNS THIS 2012 MINI COOPER HAS SUDDENLY NOW STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH HER WATER PUMP LEAKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TREATED WITH THIS RUDE EMPLOYEE BY CHRISTOPHER GUZMAN WHOM HAD A VERY UNPROFESSIONAL AND NO EMPATHY. VERY SHORT WITH RESPONSES AND SARCASM.KEEP IN MIND MY MOTHER IS ELDERLY AND KNOWS N…

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MY MOTHER WHO OWNS THIS 2012 MINI COOPER HAS SUDDENLY NOW STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH HER WATER PUMP LEAKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TREATED WITH THIS RUDE EMPLOYEE BY CHRISTOPHER GUZMAN WHOM HAD A VERY UNPROFESSIONAL AND NO EMPATHY. VERY SHORT WITH RESPONSES AND SARCASM.KEEP IN MIND MY MOTHER IS ELDERLY AND KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT CARS. SO I LOG INTO TO YOUR SITE AND SEE THERE IS A RECALL ON WATER PUMPS BUT MY MOTHER'S IS NOT ONE OF THEM. AND GUESS WHAT HER WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED MARCH 2019. GO FIGURE. SO IF SOMETHING WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY MOTHER BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP. AND HOW FUNNY HOW MY MOMS CAR WAS NOT A RECALL. I WOULD QUALIFY FOR THAT ACTION LAWSUIT. HOW DOES A 2012 WATER PUMP JUST GIVE UP WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE 24 000 I WOULD LIKE TO ESCALATE THIS FURTHER AND AN EXPLANATION HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED!! LOOK AT THE MILAGE!

NHTSA ODI #11291281

53,000 miles · Dec 18, 2018
EngineUnknown Or OtherFire

WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES ON THE HIGHWAY, MY MINI COOPER SHUT OFF COMPLETELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER AND THAT IS WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE, WITHIN 6 MINUTES MY WHOLE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, CAR TOTALED. INSURENCE INSPECTORS COULDN'T FIGURE OUT A CAUSE. ONE OF THE FIRE FIGHTERS SAID …

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WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES ON THE HIGHWAY, MY MINI COOPER SHUT OFF COMPLETELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER AND THAT IS WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE, WITHIN 6 MINUTES MY WHOLE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, CAR TOTALED. INSURENCE INSPECTORS COULDN'T FIGURE OUT A CAUSE. ONE OF THE FIRE FIGHTERS SAID IT LOOKS LIKE IT STARTED NEAR THE WATER PUMP. THERE ARE RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT MINE. MY MINI HASN'T BEEN WORKED ON SINCE LAST YEAR WHEN I GOT NEW TIRES, I ALSO KEEP UP WITH EVERY OIL CHANGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11162247

56,000 miles · Aug 15, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or OtherFire

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND, AFTER GOING OVER SEVERAL POT HOLES, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED, AND THE ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED. THIS IS WHEN I PULLED OVER INTO THE OFF RAMP, AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SPUTTERING STOP. I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT TO …

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VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND, AFTER GOING OVER SEVERAL POT HOLES, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED, AND THE ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED. THIS IS WHEN I PULLED OVER INTO THE OFF RAMP, AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SPUTTERING STOP. I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT TO THE DIRT SIDE LANE OF THE OFF RAMP. I OPENED THE HOOD, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I COULD SEE BURNT CIRCUITS, BURNT PLASTIC, AND COOLANT LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND EXPOSED WIRING. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR IMMEDIATELY EXITING ONTO THE OFF RAMP, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. I COULD HAVE ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF THE FIRE; THIS FAULTY ENGINEERING BY BMW/MINI HAS ALREADY TAKEN THE LIFE OF A DRIVER IN SOUTH KOREA. BMW ISSUED A RECALL OF THE 2012 MINI COOPER S ROADSTER IN SOUTH KOREA, BUT WHEN I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ONE OF THEIR SERVICE CENTERS, THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNAWARE OF THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE. I SEE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED, BUT WHEN I TYPE IN MY VIN, NO RECALL IS ATTACHED TO MY VEHICLE. BMW/MINI IS TAKING NO ACTION; THEY ARE HARMING AND KILLING DRIVERS OF ITS VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #11120060

56,000 miles · Aug 15, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or OtherFire

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND, AFTER GOING OVER SEVERAL POT HOLES, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED, AND THE ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED. THIS IS WHEN I PULLED OVER INTO THE OFF RAMP, AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SPUTTERING STOP. I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT TO …

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VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND, AFTER GOING OVER SEVERAL POT HOLES, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED, AND THE ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED. THIS IS WHEN I PULLED OVER INTO THE OFF RAMP, AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SPUTTERING STOP. I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT TO THE DIRT SIDE LANE OF THE OFF RAMP. I OPENED THE HOOD, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I COULD SEE BURNT CIRCUITS, BURNT PLASTIC, AND COOLANT LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND EXPOSED WIRING. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR IMMEDIATELY EXITING ONTO THE OFF RAMP, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. I COULD HAVE ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF THE FIRE; THIS FAULTY ENGINEERING BY BMW/MINI HAS ALREADY TAKEN THE LIFE OF A DRIVER IN SOUTH KOREA. BMW ISSUED A RECALL OF THE 2012 MINI COOPER S ROADSTER, BUT WHEN I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ONE OF THEIR SERVICE CENTERS, THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNAWARE OF THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE. I SEE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED, BUT WHEN I TYPE IN MY VIN, NO RECALL IS ATTACHED TO MY VEHICLE. BMW/MINI IS TAKING NO ACTION; THEY ARE HARMING AND KILLING DRIVERS OF ITS VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #11120057

56,000 miles · Aug 14, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or OtherFire

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND AFTER GOING OVER SEVERAL POT HOLES THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED AND AN ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED. THIS IS WHEN I PULLED OVER INTO THE OFF RAMP AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SPUTTERING STOP. I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT TO THE D…

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VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND AFTER GOING OVER SEVERAL POT HOLES THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED AND AN ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED. THIS IS WHEN I PULLED OVER INTO THE OFF RAMP AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SPUTTERING STOP. I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT TO THE DIRT SIDE LANE OF THE OFF RAMP. I OPENED THE HOOD, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I COULD SEE BURNT CIRCUITS, BURNT PLASTIC, AND COOLANT LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND EXPOSED WIRING. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR IMMEDIATELY EXITING ONTO THE OFF-RAMP, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ODI #11119998

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2017
Engine

TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN RADIATOR HOSE LEAKING. NEEDS UPPER RADIATOR HOSE, AND THERMOSTAT WITH HARNESS TO CORRECT. DISCOVERED DURING A ROUTINE OIL BRAKES ETC INSPECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THE HARNESS AND THE NEW ONE HAS A "COMPUTER" AND WOULD COST $1450 TO FIX. THIS IS AN UPPER HOSE AND I LOOKED ONL…

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TEMPERATURE SENSOR IN RADIATOR HOSE LEAKING. NEEDS UPPER RADIATOR HOSE, AND THERMOSTAT WITH HARNESS TO CORRECT. DISCOVERED DURING A ROUTINE OIL BRAKES ETC INSPECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THE HARNESS AND THE NEW ONE HAS A "COMPUTER" AND WOULD COST $1450 TO FIX. THIS IS AN UPPER HOSE AND I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THE REPLACEMENT HARNESS HAS TOW SEPARATE CONNECTORS, ONE FOR COOLANT TEMP SENSOR AND THE OTHER FOR THE COOLANT THERMOSTAT. I HD CHECKED MY FLUIDS TWO DAYS BEFORE ON A COLD ENGINE AND THEY WERE FINE AND WATER OVERFLOW WAS AT THE PROPER LEVEL. I CHECKED MY COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK THE DAY AFTER VISITING THE DEALERSHIP ON A COLD ENGINE AND THE OVERFLOW TANK WAS LOW... I ADDED WATER... IT HAS NOT GONE DOWN FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I HAVE HEARD THERE IS CORROSION THAT HAPPENS AND THE THERMOSTAT MAY NOT EMPLOY AND YOU CAN HAVE AN OVERHEATED ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #11044456

105,000 miles · Sep 4, 2017
Engine

THESE 2012 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN ARE HAVING THE TIMING GUIDES BRAKE AND SOMETIMES RUIN THE ENGINE. IN MY CASE I THINK I CAUGHT IT ON TIME, I CALLED MINI HERE LOCALLY AND MY WARRANTY RUNS OUT THIS SEPTEMBER 2017 OR 100,000. BUT MY CAR JUST HIT 105,000, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MINI HAVE HAD FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS AND I SAW A RECALL UP …

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THESE 2012 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN ARE HAVING THE TIMING GUIDES BRAKE AND SOMETIMES RUIN THE ENGINE. IN MY CASE I THINK I CAUGHT IT ON TIME, I CALLED MINI HERE LOCALLY AND MY WARRANTY RUNS OUT THIS SEPTEMBER 2017 OR 100,000. BUT MY CAR JUST HIT 105,000, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MINI HAVE HAD FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS AND I SAW A RECALL UP TO 2011 BUT HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING FOR 2012 MINI CLUBMAN. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT BMW/MINI WENT WITH PLASTIC GUIDES INSTEAD OF SOME OTHER MATERIAL THAT COULD WITHSTOOD MORE BEATING, SPECIALLY FOR THIS AREA. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP, BECAUSE I'M HAVING TO FORK OUT ANY WHERES BETWEEN $1500'TO $3000.00!TO GET THIS FIXED. I WAS DRIVING WHEN I HEARD THE NOISE AND NOW IT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11021337

20,670 miles · Aug 18, 2016
Engine

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT-- COOLENT THERMOSTAT STICKING PER ALLDATA SHOWS THERMOSTAT HOUSING W/THERMOSTAT, SENSOR ETC, SHOWS RECALL FOR THESE PARTS UPDATED.

NHTSA ODI #10896947

Official recalls

1

23V337000 · Electrical System

May 11, 2023

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2014 MINI Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Clubman John Cooper Works, and 2007-2013 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. The electronic control module in the driver's side footwell area may short-circuit, due to corrosion from water and road salt.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the sunroof drains, interior footwell area, and FRM and, depending upon the results of the inspection, certain components will be replaced. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.