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Mini

2012 Mini COOPER COUPE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2012 Mini COOPER COUPE has 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: in weather below zero f when the car is left outside for over 8 hours the engine sometimes starts in "limp" mode and does not allow full power until fully warmed up. this can take over 10 miles of driving, idling alone does not warm up the engine very quickly in below zero weather and limp mode. the. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report

9

Total Complaints

0

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

3 complaints
33%
  • • IN WEATHER BELOW ZERO F WHEN THE CAR IS LEFT OUTSIDE FOR OVER 8 HOURS THE ENGINE SOMETIMES STARTS IN "LIMP" MODE AND DOES NOT ALLOW FULL POWER UNTIL FULLY WARMED UP. THIS CAN TAKE OVER 10 MILES OF DRIVING, IDLING ALONE DOES NOT WARM UP THE ENGINE VERY QUICKLY IN BELOW ZERO WEATHER AND LIMP MODE. THE
  • • IT'S SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM AND WITH ALOT OF STUFF WITH THIS CAR I GET ONE THING FIX IN TWO MORE THINGS GO WRONG WITH IT JUST HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE.
  • • The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper Coupe. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. While inspecting under the hood, the contact discovered that cylinder #4 coil was charred, melted, and smoking, and the ECU was damaged
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“IN WEATHER BELOW ZERO F WHEN THE CAR IS LEFT OUTSIDE FOR OVER 8 HOURS THE ENGINE SOMETIMES STARTS IN "LIMP" MODE AND DOES NOT ALLOW FULL POWER UNTIL FULLY WARMED UP. THIS CAN TAKE OVER 10 MILES OF DRIVING, IDLING ALONE DOES NOT WARM UP THE ENGINE VERY QUICKLY IN BELOW ZERO WEATHER AND LIMP MODE. THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

2 complaints
22%
  • • TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AT START UP AND DO NOT TURN OFF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AT THIS TIME. DEALER REPORTS THAT IT IS THE SZL MODULE (STEERING ANGLE SENSOR) IS FAILING. BMW ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE 2006 5 AND 6 SERIES FOR THIS SAME SENSOR. READING THE MINI FO
  • • On Sunday, [XXX] I drove my car 34 miles to [XXX] . I parked right around 9:30am. Around 3:30pm we were getting ready to leave the track and we noticed smoke coming from my car. A friend told me to pop the hood but when I reached down to pull the release the area was in flames. Safety teams and the
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AT START UP AND DO NOT TURN OFF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AT THIS TIME. DEALER REPORTS THAT IT IS THE SZL MODULE (STEERING ANGLE SENSOR) IS FAILING. BMW ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE 2006 5 AND 6 SERIES FOR THIS SAME SENSOR. READING THE MINI FO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

1 complaints
11%
  • • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OCCUPIED BY A PASSENGER THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS IF THERE WERE NO PASSENGER PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FA
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OCCUPIED BY A PASSENGER THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS IF THERE WERE NO PASSENGER PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

1 complaints
11%
  • • TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AT START UP AND DO NOT TURN OFF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AT THIS TIME. DEALER REPORTS THAT IT IS THE SZL MODULE (STEERING ANGLE SENSOR) IS FAILING. BMW ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE 2006 5 AND 6 SERIES FOR THIS SAME SENSOR. READING THE MINI FO
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AT START UP AND DO NOT TURN OFF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AT THIS TIME. DEALER REPORTS THAT IT IS THE SZL MODULE (STEERING ANGLE SENSOR) IS FAILING. BMW ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE 2006 5 AND 6 SERIES FOR THIS SAME SENSOR. READING THE MINI FO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

1 complaints
11%
  • • TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AT START UP AND DO NOT TURN OFF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AT THIS TIME. DEALER REPORTS THAT IT IS THE SZL MODULE (STEERING ANGLE SENSOR) IS FAILING. BMW ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE 2006 5 AND 6 SERIES FOR THIS SAME SENSOR. READING THE MINI FO
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AT START UP AND DO NOT TURN OFF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AT THIS TIME. DEALER REPORTS THAT IT IS THE SZL MODULE (STEERING ANGLE SENSOR) IS FAILING. BMW ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE 2006 5 AND 6 SERIES FOR THIS SAME SENSOR. READING THE MINI FO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500
ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500
AIR BAGS(~50K mi)
$500
BRAKES(~50K mi)
$500
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 9 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • ☐
    ENGINE: IN WEATHER BELOW ZERO F WHEN THE CAR IS LEFT OUTSIDE FOR OVER 8 HOURS THE ENGINE SOMETIMES STARTS IN "LIMP" MODE AND DOES NOT ALLOW FULL POWER UNTIL FULLY WARMED UP. THIS CAN TAKE OVER 10 MILES OF DRIVING, IDLING ALONE DOES NOT WARM UP THE ENGINE VERY QUICKLY IN BELOW ZERO WEATHER AND LIMP MODE. THE

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    ELECTRICAL: TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AT START UP AND DO NOT TURN OFF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AT THIS TIME. DEALER REPORTS THAT IT IS THE SZL MODULE (STEERING ANGLE SENSOR) IS FAILING. BMW ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE 2006 5 AND 6 SERIES FOR THIS SAME SENSOR. READING THE MINI FO

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OCCUPIED BY A PASSENGER THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS IF THERE WERE NO PASSENGER PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FA

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    BRAKES: TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AT START UP AND DO NOT TURN OFF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AT THIS TIME. DEALER REPORTS THAT IT IS THE SZL MODULE (STEERING ANGLE SENSOR) IS FAILING. BMW ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE 2006 5 AND 6 SERIES FOR THIS SAME SENSOR. READING THE MINI FO

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Mini COOPER COUPE — Year Comparison

How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.

2012
9Excellent Reliability
Full years-to-avoid analysis →

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Fire reports
1
Crash reports
0
Injury reports
0
Segment avg
80

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2012 Mini COOPER COUPE

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