2012 Mini COOPER S COUNTRYMAN
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Mini COOPER S COUNTRYMAN has 32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.0x the segment average of 32. The most common issue is engine problems (41% of all complaints), specifically: turbo coolant pump - last year my car smelled like burnt rubber and smoke began coming out of the tailpipes. the smoke was so bad, the car looked like it was on fire. i took it to a body shop to get it fixed and the smoke stopped. about 9 months later, i was parked with the car on. the rubber smell . There is 1 recall issued for this model year. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.
32
Total Complaints
1
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.0x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
ENGINE
13 complaints- • TURBO COOLANT PUMP - LAST YEAR MY CAR SMELLED LIKE BURNT RUBBER AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPES. THE SMOKE WAS SO BAD, THE CAR LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. I TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP TO GET IT FIXED AND THE SMOKE STOPPED. ABOUT 9 MONTHS LATER, I WAS PARKED WITH THE CAR ON. THE RUBBER SMELL
- • TURBO COOLANT PUMP - LAST YEAR MY CAR SMELLED LIKE BURNT RUBBER AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPES. THE SMOKE WAS SO BAD, THE CAR LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. I TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP TO GET IT FIXED AND THE SMOKE STOPPED. ABOUT 9 MONTHS LATER, I WAS PARKED WITH THE CAR ON. THE RUBBER SMELL
- • MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR SLOWED TO 19 MPH, THEN DIED. I WILL NEED A NEW TIMING CHAIN, ENGINE, AND MORE. THIS CAR IS NEW TO ME FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP.
“TURBO COOLANT PUMP - LAST YEAR MY CAR SMELLED LIKE BURNT RUBBER AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPES. THE SMOKE WAS SO BAD, THE CAR LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. I TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP TO GET IT FIXED AND THE SMOKE STOPPED. ABOUT 9 MONTHS LATER, I WAS PARKED WITH THE CAR ON. THE RUBBER SMELL ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
When Problems Appear on the 2012 Mini COOPER S COUNTRYMAN
Based on 18 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 94K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.
ENGINE
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.
Recalls (1)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.
Risk: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.
Fuel Cost Calculator for 2012 Mini COOPER S COUNTRYMAN
Live EIA pricesBased on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.
5-Year Gas Price History
EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → todaySource: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2012 Mini COOPER S COUNTRYMAN
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Mini New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
Corrosion unlimited miles for 12 years
These are the terms for a new Mini. If you're buying a used 2012 COOPER S COUNTRYMAN, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Mini dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 32 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: TURBO COOLANT PUMP - LAST YEAR MY CAR SMELLED LIKE BURNT RUBBER AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPES. THE SMOKE WAS SO BAD, THE CAR LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. I TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP TO GET IT FIXED AND THE SMOKE STOPPED. ABOUT 9 MONTHS LATER, I WAS PARKED WITH THE CAR ON. THE RUBBER SMELL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR SENSOR FAULTS WHICH WERE COVERED IN RECALLS ON EARLIER MODELS ARE STILL A PROBLEM, YET NO LONGER COVERED FOR REPAIR. THIS SENSOR CONTROLS AIRBAG INFLATION DURING ACCIDENTS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: SIMPLY PUT, MY SHIFT CABLE DETACHED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I WENT FROM 1ST TO 2ND TO NEUTRAL TO STOP AT THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY TO LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE PULLING ONTO THE ROAD TO NO SHIFT CAPABILITIES WHATSOEVER. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED AT THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE I NORMALLY DRI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: Fire observed starting in the engine compartment from a red hot glowing spot on the auxiliary water pump, an electric powered pump on the front of the engine. The purpose of the auxiliary water pump is to continue to pump coolant through the turbocharger even after the engine was shut off. The veh
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 1 recall have been completed — free at any Mini dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Mini COOPER S 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
- 32
- Recalls
- 1
- Fire reports
- 5
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 32
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Mini COOPER S COUNTRYMAN