CSR

MINI · NHTSA safety record

2011 MINI Cooper

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

83

Complaints

1

Crashes

3

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2011 MINI Cooper have filed 83 safety complaints with NHTSA between August 2011 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 37 of them (45%). The typical failure was reported at 65,000 miles, the median across the 33 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 1 recall covering this vehicle.

Recalls (1)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

23V337000 · May 11, 2023

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2014 MINI Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Clubman John Cooper Works, and 2007-2013 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. The electronic control module in the driver's side footwell area may short-circuit, due to corrosion from water and road salt.
The risk
An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect the sunroof drains, interior footwell area, and FRM and, depending upon the results of the inspection, certain components will be replaced. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 97,933 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 83.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 37 45%
AIR BAGS 18 22%
ENGINE 12 14%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 9 11%
POWER TRAIN 9 11%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 6 7%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 5 6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 6%
SEATS 4 5%
SERVICE BRAKES 4 5%
SEAT BELTS 3 4%
STEERING 3 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2023 at 25.

2011 2023 2026
2011 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 injured

Footwell Control Module - (FRM) was dead after battery dead. It had a safety recall repot 23V-337 on the same model and year of my vehicle BUT mine is not on the list? A extended warranty was found till 2021 and mine had problem since 2014, and I paid dealership for inspection for at least 6 times, and it was still not got replaced till it was dead completely currently.

NHTSA complaint 11551454. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · towed · 85,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING, A BURNING ODOR ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT SENSOR AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RAY CATENA MINI OF WESTCHESTER (LOCATED AT 543 TARRYTOWN RD, WHITE PLAINS, NY 10607, (914) 347-6464) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE BOOT AND ALL THE CONNECTORS FOR THE TURBO HOSES MELTED. IN ADDITION, A LEAK WAS FOUND IN THE OIL HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN

NHTSA complaint 11151193, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

fire · 3,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE FROM A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT UNDER THE HOOD WITH A GARDEN HOSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTACTED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA complaint 10457204. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

fire

DROVE CAR ABOUT 4 MILES. PARKED AT SHOPPING CENTER, TURNED OFF CAR AND LOCKED IT. RETURNED 15 MINS LATER TO FIND FLAMES IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT!

NHTSA complaint 10850122. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I am filing this complaint against Keeler MINI in Latham, NY, and MINI USA regarding their refusal to provide a working recall remedy or alternative transportation under federal NHTSA Safety Recall 23V-337 (Footwell Control Module Moisture Intrusion). My 2011 MINI Cooper suffered an active, total failure of the Footwell Control Module—the precise component identified in Recall 23V-337. The module short-circuited, creating a constant parasitic power drain that disables the battery and renders the vehicle completely un-drivable. I have been without a functioning car for over three weeks. Keeler MINI claims the recall repair will take four weeks due to parts delays, yet they explicitly refuse

NHTSA complaint 11755957, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

towed · 198,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH in the rain with the windows rolled down, the driver's side and passenger's side windows failed to roll up. No warning light illuminated. Additionally, the headlights, windows, and daytime running lights became inoperable. The contact was unsure if the taillights were affected. The contact stated that the vehicle had been garage-kept. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the footwell control module had failed. The vehicle was not repaired because there was no extended

NHTSA complaint 11742747, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My Mini Cooper has been showing repeated warnings stating “Start-off assistance inactive. Caution: vehicle may roll back!” for some time. This issue appears to relate to an existing recall involving potential electrical and starter/rollaway defects. The vehicle also has a persistent front parking light malfunction and intermittent electrical issues with the windows, which stop mid-way and roll back down automatically when the car shifts gears or moves slightly. In addition, the battery repeatedly dies, even though it was replaced with a brand-new one a few months ago. This suggests an underlying electrical drain or short, which could increase the risk of electrical fire or vehicle failure

NHTSA complaint 11692411, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
After receiving your notice regarding my MiniCooper (VIN [XXX] ), I contacted my local dealer, Motor City Mini (where I purchased the vehicle) to schedule the inspection, and repairs if necessary. I was informed that the earliest inspection would be in September and they would need to keep the vehicle for several weeks to do the inspection. If repairs are required, they would need to keep 'the vehicle 'for additional weeks or months to complete the work. Loaner vehicles would not be available. In your letter, you state, "If your MINI dealer is unable to remedy the defect ...within a reasonable period of time, you may notify the Administrator. .." . I consider weeks to inspect and month(s)

NHTSA complaint 11666386, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2011 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint 11651122. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA complaint 11637404. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the MINI Cooper

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2019 12 2
2017 28 3
2016 28 4
2015 56 6
2014 34 7
2013 47 1
2012 66 1
2010 92 2

Other 2011 MINI models

Every MINI on this site — 29 vehicles, 45 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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