2012 Mini COOPER COUNTRYMAN
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Mini COOPER COUNTRYMAN has 78 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: my mini was stopped at a traffic light behind a toyota 4 runner when i was struck from the back by a careless driver in a midsize sedan who had failed to see the cars in front of her stopped at a red light. the damage done to both the car that struck mine from behind as well as the damage done to th. ⚠️ 11 fire reports filed.
78
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.0x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
28 complaints- • MY MINI WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BEHIND A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM THE BACK BY A CARELESS DRIVER IN A MIDSIZE SEDAN WHO HAD FAILED TO SEE THE CARS IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE DAMAGE DONE TO BOTH THE CAR THAT STRUCK MINE FROM BEHIND AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE DONE TO TH
- • ON 3/6/12 (VEHICLE MILEAGE 4,743) MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE DRIVING IN OUR 2012 MINI COUNTRYMAN S AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITH REDUCED POWER ON THE FREEWAY AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE ENGINE COMPUTER WAS RESET AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO US. ON 5/15/12 (VEHICLE MILE
- • ON A 2012 MINI COUNTRYMAN S ALL4 WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION, STARTING AT 15500 MILES ON THE CAR, BEGAN NOTICING ODD RESPONSE TO THE THROTTLE WHEN ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CLUTCH WOULD ENGAGE AND ENGINE INCREASE REVS (200-400 RPM) TO ACCELERATE WHILE NOT DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THIS WORSEN
“MY MINI WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BEHIND A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM THE BACK BY A CARELESS DRIVER IN A MIDSIZE SEDAN WHO HAD FAILED TO SEE THE CARS IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE DAMAGE DONE TO BOTH THE CAR THAT STRUCK MINE FROM BEHIND AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE DONE TO TH”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
13 complaints- • MY MINI WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BEHIND A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM THE BACK BY A CARELESS DRIVER IN A MIDSIZE SEDAN WHO HAD FAILED TO SEE THE CARS IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE DAMAGE DONE TO BOTH THE CAR THAT STRUCK MINE FROM BEHIND AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE DONE TO TH
- • ONLY RUN 12000 MILE LESS THAN YEAR THERE IS RATTLE SOUND ON SPEEDOMETER" SPECIALLY NAVIGATION SCREEN. THEY TRY FIX THE PROBLEM, AND TELL ME , THEY CAN NOT FIX, BECAUSE IT COMING FROM SPEEDOMETER. AND PRINT OUR ONE PIECE PAPER, WHICH IS MINI OFFICIAL PAPER AS BELOW" SUBJECT: BUZZING NOI
- • I KEEP HAVING PROBLEMS ELECTRIC PROBLEMS ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON COIL BROKE BROKE DOWN WON'T START
“MY MINI WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BEHIND A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM THE BACK BY A CARELESS DRIVER IN A MIDSIZE SEDAN WHO HAD FAILED TO SEE THE CARS IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE DAMAGE DONE TO BOTH THE CAR THAT STRUCK MINE FROM BEHIND AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE DONE TO TH”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
6 complaints- • ON A 2012 MINI COUNTRYMAN S ALL4 WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION, STARTING AT 15500 MILES ON THE CAR, BEGAN NOTICING ODD RESPONSE TO THE THROTTLE WHEN ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CLUTCH WOULD ENGAGE AND ENGINE INCREASE REVS (200-400 RPM) TO ACCELERATE WHILE NOT DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THIS WORSEN
- • THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR DIED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVE SHAFT BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 14000 MILES ON A 2012 VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAKING A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE AND RUSTING OUT FROM THE AXLES BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THEY COUL
- • FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH MY 2012 COUNTRYMAN ALL4 S CLUTCH. THE CAR SIMPLY WILL NOT GO UP HILLS. LIVING IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST, THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN IN MULTIPLE SITUATIONS WHERE THE CAR WILL NOT ENGAGE, RESULTING IN STALLING AND A BURNING CLUTCH. I'VE HAD TO
“ON A 2012 MINI COUNTRYMAN S ALL4 WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION, STARTING AT 15500 MILES ON THE CAR, BEGAN NOTICING ODD RESPONSE TO THE THROTTLE WHEN ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CLUTCH WOULD ENGAGE AND ENGINE INCREASE REVS (200-400 RPM) TO ACCELERATE WHILE NOT DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THIS WORSEN”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
5 complaints- • MY MINI WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BEHIND A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM THE BACK BY A CARELESS DRIVER IN A MIDSIZE SEDAN WHO HAD FAILED TO SEE THE CARS IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE DAMAGE DONE TO BOTH THE CAR THAT STRUCK MINE FROM BEHIND AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE DONE TO TH
- • THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2011 AND HAS REQUIRED A MULTITUDE OF MAINTENANCE /REPAIRS DUE TO MANUFACTURER ISSUES. THE DEALERSHIP OF ORIGINAL PURCHASE WAS INCREDIBLY RESPONSIBLE AND TOOK RESPONSIBILITY OF THESE REPAIRS. I MOVED TO ANOTHER AREA TWO YEARS AGO AND RIGHT ABOUT THIS TIME, THE FRONT PA
- • THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR MAT IS FAULTY. THIS ISSUE WAS LISTED AS A RECALL ON PREVIOUS MODELS OF MINI COOPERS FROM NHTSA.
“MY MINI WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BEHIND A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM THE BACK BY A CARELESS DRIVER IN A MIDSIZE SEDAN WHO HAD FAILED TO SEE THE CARS IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE DAMAGE DONE TO BOTH THE CAR THAT STRUCK MINE FROM BEHIND AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE DONE TO TH”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SEATS/RESTRAINTS
5 complaints- • I PURCHASED THE 2012 MINI NEW AND TOOK DELIVERY 12/20/2013. THE FIRST ISSUE INVOLVED THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT AND ALARM. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE FASTEN SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE AUDIBLE ALARM. THE SEAT BELT WAS SECURELY FASTENED, I HAD NO PASSENGERS AND
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT ALARM WOULD SOUND WHEN NO ONE WAS OCCUPYING THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE DEALER DID NOT REQUIRE ANY REPAIRS TO THE VEHI
- • I was driving down the road when a light popped onto my dash, it was the airbag/seatbelt light after some research. From what I've read, this will prevent the airbags from activating in case of a crash, and after talking to other MINI owners it is extremely common.
“I PURCHASED THE 2012 MINI NEW AND TOOK DELIVERY 12/20/2013. THE FIRST ISSUE INVOLVED THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT AND ALARM. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE FASTEN SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE AUDIBLE ALARM. THE SEAT BELT WAS SECURELY FASTENED, I HAD NO PASSENGERS AND”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 78 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: MY MINI WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BEHIND A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM THE BACK BY A CARELESS DRIVER IN A MIDSIZE SEDAN WHO HAD FAILED TO SEE THE CARS IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE DAMAGE DONE TO BOTH THE CAR THAT STRUCK MINE FROM BEHIND AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE DONE TO TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: MY MINI WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BEHIND A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM THE BACK BY A CARELESS DRIVER IN A MIDSIZE SEDAN WHO HAD FAILED TO SEE THE CARS IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE DAMAGE DONE TO BOTH THE CAR THAT STRUCK MINE FROM BEHIND AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE DONE TO TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: ON A 2012 MINI COUNTRYMAN S ALL4 WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION, STARTING AT 15500 MILES ON THE CAR, BEGAN NOTICING ODD RESPONSE TO THE THROTTLE WHEN ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CLUTCH WOULD ENGAGE AND ENGINE INCREASE REVS (200-400 RPM) TO ACCELERATE WHILE NOT DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THIS WORSEN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: MY MINI WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BEHIND A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM THE BACK BY A CARELESS DRIVER IN A MIDSIZE SEDAN WHO HAD FAILED TO SEE THE CARS IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE DAMAGE DONE TO BOTH THE CAR THAT STRUCK MINE FROM BEHIND AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE DONE TO TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Mini COOPER COUNTRYMAN — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 78
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 11
- Crash reports
- 4
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
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