2013 Mini COOPER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Mini COOPER has 72 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: the window on the driver's side stopped working. it is an automatic window with a one-touch feature. at first, the one-touch feature stopped working. then nothing worked to get the window to go up or down. upon pressing the button that controls this window, the window did nothing and a faint cli.

1 crash report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

19 complaints

26%

• THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STOPPED WORKING. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC WINDOW WITH A ONE-TOUCH FEATURE. AT FIRST, THE ONE-TOUCH FEATURE STOPPED WORKING. THEN NOTHING WORKED TO GET THE WINDOW TO GO UP OR DOWN. UPON PRESSING THE BUTTON THAT CONTROLS THIS WINDOW, THE WINDOW DID NOTHING AND A FAINT CLI
• FROM INITIAL DELIVERY THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATES A SPEED THAT IS 8% OVER ACTUAL. I HAVE FILED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WITH MINI TO GET THIS CORRECTED. THEY TELL ME THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE 2010 MODEL. IN ORDER TO ACCURATELY MONITOR MY SPEED, I USE AN AP
• THE CUP HOLDER LEAKS IF THERE IS ANY FLUID SPILLED IN IT AND SHORTS OUT AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT CONTROLS THE GEAR SHIFT KNOB. EVEN THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF LIQUID CAN CAUSE THIS.

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

“THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STOPPED WORKING. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC WINDOW WITH A ONE-TOUCH FEATURE. AT FIRST, THE ONE-TOUCH FEATURE STOPPED WORKING. THEN NOTHING WORKED TO GET THE WINDOW TO GO UP OR DOWN. UPON PRESSING THE BUTTON THAT CONTROLS THIS WINDOW, THE WINDOW DID NOTHING AND A FAINT CLI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

16 complaints

22%

• I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 10/15/2015 WHICH I REAR ENDED A PICKUP TRUCK. I WAS GOING ROUGHLY 45-50 MPH WHEN THE TRUCK IN FRONT SLAMMED THEIR BRAKES WHICH CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO HIS REAR END OF THE TRUCK. THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS IN BAD SHAPE AND LUCKILY I WAS NOT INJURED. HOWEVER, THE AIRBA
• I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICING FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND BECAUSE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING WAS DISPLAYED. TECHNICIAN SAID THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY HAS A SENSOR FAULT. NO GUARANTEE THE AIRBAG WOULD INFLATE IN AN ACCIDENT. $1123 PLUS TAX TO REPLACE. IS THERE A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS? IF SO I HAVE NO
• I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICING FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND BECAUSE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING WAS DISPLAYED. TECHNICIAN SAID THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY HAS A SENSOR FAULT. NO GUARANTEE THE AIRBAG WOULD INFLATE IN AN ACCIDENT. $1123 PLUS TAX TO REPLACE. IS THERE A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS? IF SO I HAVE NO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 10/15/2015 WHICH I REAR ENDED A PICKUP TRUCK. I WAS GOING ROUGHLY 45-50 MPH WHEN THE TRUCK IN FRONT SLAMMED THEIR BRAKES WHICH CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO HIS REAR END OF THE TRUCK. THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS IN BAD SHAPE AND LUCKILY I WAS NOT INJURED. HOWEVER, THE AIRBA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

6 complaints

• When passenger is seated with safety belt on the seat belt light comes on along with a message that the passenger seat air bag will not deploy.
• There have been at least 7 write-ups about air bag failure on this model reported to you. When a passenger sits in the seat of my car, with the seat belt on, 01 the airbag light and seat belt light come on. If I have an accident the airbag on the passenger side will not deploy, leading to death or
• The footwell module that controls the lights, brake lights windows and dashboard is faulty on all mini cooper of this module. Every time I change my battery or disconnect it the module brakes and the dealership knows this problem and still want to charge 1300 dollars to fix it it is a safety and haz

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

“When passenger is seated with safety belt on the seat belt light comes on along with a message that the passenger seat air bag will not deploy.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

5 complaints

• I DROVE AN AUTOMATIC 2013 CERTIFIED MINI COOPER OFF THE LOT WITH 33K PRIOR MILES. AFTER LESS THAN A WEEK, AND AFTER ONLY DRIVING A TOTAL OF 254 MILES, THE ACCELERATOR FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I DID NOT LOOSE ALL POWER, THE GAS PEDAL JUST QUIT RESPONDING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. ALL OTHER
• TAKATA RECALL: THE WARNING LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON THE PAST 6 MONTHS SAYING MY AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT OPERATIONAL. MINI DEALERS WANT TO CHARGE ME $145 PLUS TO CHECK IF THE AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE. DON'T THEY HAVE TO CHECK THIS AT NO CHARGE FOR ME? I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY PASSENGERS, BUT CANNOT AF
• Repeated experiences of sudden engine operational failure and reduced and/or complete loss of power while driving. The engine malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Car stalls and stops in traffic on the highway and on streets blocking traffic. Will not start again until powered off for periods betw

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

“I DROVE AN AUTOMATIC 2013 CERTIFIED MINI COOPER OFF THE LOT WITH 33K PRIOR MILES. AFTER LESS THAN A WEEK, AND AFTER ONLY DRIVING A TOTAL OF 254 MILES, THE ACCELERATOR FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I DID NOT LOOSE ALL POWER, THE GAS PEDAL JUST QUIT RESPONDING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. ALL OTHER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

5 complaints

• THE METAL CLADDING ON THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE DETACHED AND WHEN I GRABBED THE HANDLE TO GET INTO THE CAR THE METAL CUT INTO MY INDEX FINGER, REQUIRING 5 STITCHES TO CLOSE THE WOUND. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED IN MY SPACE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
• 64,000 MILES - WINTER 2017 MY 2013 MINI COOPER PACEMAN SALL4 WAS TAKING ON WATER IN THE BOOT- DIDNT KNOW IF IT WAS FROM MELTING SNOW ETC. IN CAR. DRIED OUT. WATER CAME BACK AND FLOODED BACK SEAT FLOOR. BROUGHT TO MINI- THEY TOLD ME I HAD A TAILLIGHT SEAL LEAK WHICH CAUSED WATER TO GET DOWN INTO T
• In July 2023, a recall letter I received from MINI states a defective Footwell Control Module “could potentially result in a short circuit, resulting in a potential thermal event which could increase the risk of a fire or injury.” It also states “a remedy is currently being developed.” I called the

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

“THE METAL CLADDING ON THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE DETACHED AND WHEN I GRABBED THE HANDLE TO GET INTO THE CAR THE METAL CUT INTO MY INDEX FINGER, REQUIRING 5 STITCHES TO CLOSE THE WOUND. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED IN MY SPACE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 72 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STOPPED WORKING. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC WINDOW WITH A ONE-TOUCH FEATURE. AT FIRST, THE ONE-TOUCH FEATURE STOPPED WORKING. THEN NOTHING WORKED TO GET THE WINDOW TO GO UP OR DOWN. UPON PRESSING THE BUTTON THAT CONTROLS THIS WINDOW, THE WINDOW DID NOTHING AND A FAINT CLI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 10/15/2015 WHICH I REAR ENDED A PICKUP TRUCK. I WAS GOING ROUGHLY 45-50 MPH WHEN THE TRUCK IN FRONT SLAMMED THEIR BRAKES WHICH CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO HIS REAR END OF THE TRUCK. THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS IN BAD SHAPE AND LUCKILY I WAS NOT INJURED. HOWEVER, THE AIRBA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: When passenger is seated with safety belt on the seat belt light comes on along with a message that the passenger seat air bag will not deploy.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: I DROVE AN AUTOMATIC 2013 CERTIFIED MINI COOPER OFF THE LOT WITH 33K PRIOR MILES. AFTER LESS THAN A WEEK, AND AFTER ONLY DRIVING A TOTAL OF 254 MILES, THE ACCELERATOR FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I DID NOT LOOSE ALL POWER, THE GAS PEDAL JUST QUIT RESPONDING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. ALL OTHER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)