2012 MINI Cooper S problems
The 2012 MINI Cooper S has 30 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (43%) concerns electrical system. Next are engine (13%) and fuel system (13%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 30 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 43% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 78,000 miles 18 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 2 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 1 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 6 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 3 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 18 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 78,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a fire.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2012 ranks 12th most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the MINI Cooper S with enough data (7 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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 authorized dealer, who diagnosed that the seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 24,000.
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 while having maintenance performed, the contact was notified that three of the four tire rims were cracked. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the three tire rims were replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 44,342. Dated 01/23/15 updated 9/7/2017
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 existed. Research indicates that minis from 2010-early 2012 had similar problems, resulting in mini USA extending the warranty on the fuel pump to 10 years/ 120,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the fuel pump was defective, and the fuel pump was replaced. The contact stated that approximately a year later the failure recurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer and was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump had failed again and needed to be replaced.