2012 Mini COOPER S

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Mini COOPER S has 30 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (43% of all complaints), specifically: vehicle had been driven 24 miles and parked for about 10 minutes when engine compartment caught fire. master mechanic diagnosed it originated with the coolant pump and caused a short circuit with the electronics of the pump igniting a fire.. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

13 complaints

43%

• VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN 24 MILES AND PARKED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WHEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. MASTER MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT ORIGINATED WITH THE COOLANT PUMP AND CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT WITH THE ELECTRONICS OF THE PUMP IGNITING A FIRE.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE CARPET WAS WET. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING, THE SOUND OF WATER SWISHING AROUND COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE BOTTOM AND THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE ALARM WOULD INDEPEND
• TAKATA INFLATORS" I NOTICE A BURNING SMELL INSIDE MY VEHICLE WHICH I REPORTED TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED "THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THEN I WOULD DEPART FROM MY CAR WITH THE WINDOWS UP SUNROOF CLOSED AND LOCK IT I WOULD RETURN THE WINDOWS WOULD BE ALL THE WAY DOWN AND TOP UP. THIS TOOK PLACE AGAIN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN 24 MILES AND PARKED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WHEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. MASTER MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT ORIGINATED WITH THE COOLANT PUMP AND CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT WITH THE ELECTRONICS OF THE PUMP IGNITING A FIRE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

4 complaints

13%

• ENGINE RATTLING NOISE (TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER) AT ALL TIMES, VEHICLE HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES
• THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY ONCE AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED BY MINI COOPER AND AGAIN SECOND TIME ON INNER ROADS DRIVING AT 20 MILES AN HOUR....WITHOUT ANY WARNING
• Nothing has failed yet, however, the oil stick is completely illegible. On a car that fails to have an electronic dipstick and likes to burn oil, as well as has a very small oil capacity (Around 5 liters or less) this design is going to cause the engine to run out of oil without the driver knowing.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ENGINE RATTLING NOISE (TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER) AT ALL TIMES, VEHICLE HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

4 complaints

13%

• WHILE MOVING IN TRAFFIC AND ACCELERATING, THE FUEL PUMP CUT OUT AND THE ENGINE DIED, FORCING THE DRIVER TO MANEUVER IN TRAFFIC (COASTING) EVENTUALLY COMING TO STOP IN A LEFT HAND TURN LANE WHICH WAS THEN BLOCKED WITH THE DEAD VEHICLE. THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS UNDAMAGED, THE POSSIBILITY OF A COLLISION
• THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY ONCE AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED BY MINI COOPER AND AGAIN SECOND TIME ON INNER ROADS DRIVING AT 20 MILES AN HOUR....WITHOUT ANY WARNING
• I LOVE MY MINI COOPER S. BUT THERE IS A ISSUE. TODAY I STARTED UP THE CAR AND IT STARTS SMOKING. TWICE THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TWO WEEKS. WHEN I BOUGHT IT 2 YEARS AGO I NOTICED ON THE INSIDE OF MY HOOD OF THE CAR IT'S A BLACK BURNT MARK. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED. LAST WEEK I TOOK

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHILE MOVING IN TRAFFIC AND ACCELERATING, THE FUEL PUMP CUT OUT AND THE ENGINE DIED, FORCING THE DRIVER TO MANEUVER IN TRAFFIC (COASTING) EVENTUALLY COMING TO STOP IN A LEFT HAND TURN LANE WHICH WAS THEN BLOCKED WITH THE DEAD VEHICLE. THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS UNDAMAGED, THE POSSIBILITY OF A COLLISION ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE STRONG GASOLINE FUMES EMITTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXTINGUISHED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN
• OUR VEHICLE HAS THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND I AM AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, THERE ARE MANY MINI OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS DEEPER THAN AN ISOLATED ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS B

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE STRONG GASOLINE FUMES EMITTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXTINGUISHED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURES RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATORS
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE CARPET WAS WET. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING, THE SOUND OF WATER SWISHING AROUND COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE BOTTOM AND THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE ALARM WOULD INDEPEND

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURES RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATORS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 30 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN 24 MILES AND PARKED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WHEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. MASTER MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT ORIGINATED WITH THE COOLANT PUMP AND CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT WITH THE ELECTRONICS OF THE PUMP IGNITING A FIRE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: ENGINE RATTLING NOISE (TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER) AT ALL TIMES, VEHICLE HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: WHILE MOVING IN TRAFFIC AND ACCELERATING, THE FUEL PUMP CUT OUT AND THE ENGINE DIED, FORCING THE DRIVER TO MANEUVER IN TRAFFIC (COASTING) EVENTUALLY COMING TO STOP IN A LEFT HAND TURN LANE WHICH WAS THEN BLOCKED WITH THE DEAD VEHICLE. THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS UNDAMAGED, THE POSSIBILITY OF A COLLISION
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE STRONG GASOLINE FUMES EMITTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXTINGUISHED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)