2012 Mini COOPER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Mini COOPER has 96 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: purchased a certified pre-owned mini next 2012 clubman 6-speed with 6,498 miles on it 08/2013. * 10/14/2013 around 9k miles lost power on the highway and went into limp mode, maneuvered to side of highway and called roadside assistance. towed car in to dealer who replaced 4 spark plugs said all was. ⚠️ 15 fire reports filed.

15 fire reports 1 crash report 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

27 complaints

28%

• PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED MINI NEXT 2012 CLUBMAN 6-SPEED WITH 6,498 MILES ON IT 08/2013. * 10/14/2013 AROUND 9K MILES LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE, MANEUVERED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. TOWED CAR IN TO DEALER WHO REPLACED 4 SPARK PLUGS SAID ALL WAS
• STARTED CAR, RED SERVICE ICON ON DASH ALTERNATING WITH DRIVER DOOR OPEN ICON. THIS WAS A LOSS OF INTERIOR LIGHTS, SIGNAL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS, WINDOW UP/DOWN CONTROLS, AND DOOR LOCK FUNCTIONS. CAR OTHERWISE OPERATED NORMALLY. THIS MALFUNCTION REQUIRES DEALER ONLY REPAIR. *T
• CAR KEY STUCK IN SLOT AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT. AFTER TAKING IT IN FOR REPAIR TO MINI COOPER, WE WERE INFORMED THAT MOISTURE WAS FOUND IN A COMPUTER WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE BEVERAGE HOLDER. YES, YOU READ THAT RIGHT. A COMPUTER UNDER THE BEVERAGE HOLDER AND NO MOISTURE BARRIER,

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports

“PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED MINI NEXT 2012 CLUBMAN 6-SPEED WITH 6,498 MILES ON IT 08/2013. * 10/14/2013 AROUND 9K MILES LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE, MANEUVERED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. TOWED CAR IN TO DEALER WHO REPLACED 4 SPARK PLUGS SAID ALL WAS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

18 complaints

19%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURBO CHARGER WAS NOT PROPERLY SHIELDED AND THE HOOD DID NOT HAVE ANY INSULATION. AS A RESULT, THE HOOD WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO REFER
• PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED MINI NEXT 2012 CLUBMAN 6-SPEED WITH 6,498 MILES ON IT 08/2013. * 10/14/2013 AROUND 9K MILES LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE, MANEUVERED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. TOWED CAR IN TO DEALER WHO REPLACED 4 SPARK PLUGS SAID ALL WAS
• CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CAUSE: HEATING FAULT CODE IN DIAGNOSIS(THERMOSTAT ACTIVATION). THERMOSTAT, HOUSING , AND ADAPTER REPLACED. REMOVED AND REPLACED COOLANT, CHECKED COOLING SYSTEM FOR LEAKS. 06/17/2015 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AGAIN, AND AFTER TAKING TO DEALERSHIP IT APPEARS TO BE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 6 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURBO CHARGER WAS NOT PROPERLY SHIELDED AND THE HOOD DID NOT HAVE ANY INSULATION. AS A RESULT, THE HOOD WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO REFER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

16 complaints

17%

• BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILING AT 23,000 MILES... RIDICULOUS.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG ABRUPTLY DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK, AND ARMS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT
• THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR HAS BEEN ON SINCE THE DATE POSTED. IT WOULD RESOLVE ON ITS OWN SOMETIMES BUT NOT IT NEVER TURNS OFF, HINDERING MY ABILITY TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER. I HAVE NOT SHELLED OUT THE THOUSANDS TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE I AM HOPING BMW WILL RECALL FOR THIS APPARENTLY COMMON PROBLEM

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

“BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILING AT 23,000 MILES... RIDICULOUS.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

7 complaints

• BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILING AT 23,000 MILES... RIDICULOUS.
• 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
• 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 CA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports

“BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILING AT 23,000 MILES... RIDICULOUS.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

6 complaints

• RIGHT AND LEFT SEATBELT A JAMMED. WILL NOT RELEASE. THIS WAS REPAIRED AND THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON MAY 14, 2014. *TR
• PASSENGER SEATBELT ELEMENT SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION WITH NEW SENSOR FOR A COST OF $1843.00. A 2012 VEHICLE SHOULD NOR REQUIRE A NEW SEAT THROUGH ORDINARY USE. NOTE:MINI SEATBELT SENSOR IS MOLDED INTO THE CUSHION REQUIRING A NEW CUSHION AND NOT JUST RE
• PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS RANDOMLY DISABLED (WITH WARNING LIGHT/TONE) WHEN MY 63# DOG IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. CAUSE IS A FAULTY "PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT MAT" THAT OTHERS HAVE REPORTED WILL COST OVER $1500 TO REPLACE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES BUT ONLY WHILE DRIVING SO CAN'T REALLY GET A PICTUR

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

“RIGHT AND LEFT SEATBELT A JAMMED. WILL NOT RELEASE. THIS WAS REPAIRED AND THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON MAY 14, 2014. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 96 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED MINI NEXT 2012 CLUBMAN 6-SPEED WITH 6,498 MILES ON IT 08/2013. * 10/14/2013 AROUND 9K MILES LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE, MANEUVERED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. TOWED CAR IN TO DEALER WHO REPLACED 4 SPARK PLUGS SAID ALL WAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURBO CHARGER WAS NOT PROPERLY SHIELDED AND THE HOOD DID NOT HAVE ANY INSULATION. AS A RESULT, THE HOOD WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO REFER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILING AT 23,000 MILES... RIDICULOUS.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILING AT 23,000 MILES... RIDICULOUS.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)