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MINI · NHTSA safety record

2012 MINI Cooper S

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

Owners have filed 23 safety complaints about the 2012 MINI Cooper S with the US government. Of those, 2 mention a fire and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the electrical system and the engine and its cooling.

The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 13 complaints, 57% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 86,000 miles, the median across the 13 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers July 2014 to June 2025 · How this is counted

What is on file

23 complaints on file

23

Complaints

0

Describe a crash

2

Mention fire

0

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13 · 57%
ENGINE 4 · 17%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 · 13%
STRUCTURE 2 · 9%
AIR BAGS 1 · 4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 · 4%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 1 · 4%
POWER TRAIN 1 · 4%
SEAT BELTS 1 · 4%
SEATS 1 · 4%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1 · 4%
WHEELS 1 · 4%
0 8 15

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 23.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2024 at 5.

8 6 4 2
14 16 17 18 19 20 23 24 25

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2014 to 2025.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2012 MINI Cooper S. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

2 on file

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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

18V248000 · April 18, 2018

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.
The risk
If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 47,806 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

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

SEATS

fire · 24,000 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 10617333. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 86,000 miles

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 10958534. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

towed · 121,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while merging onto a highway at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was not aware of any warning lights being illuminated. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the failure was an electrical failure. The battery

NHTSA complaint 11582965, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

towed · 116,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 50-55 MPH on the highway, the vehicle shut off inadvertently. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated that he was able to restart the vehicle after 15 minutes and continued driving; however, the failure recurred after exiting the highway. The vehicle was pushed to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the high-pressure fuel pump plausibility pressure was significantly low

NHTSA complaint 11583792, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

87,000 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. The fuel pump was replaced under warranty; however, the failure recently returned a third time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The

NHTSA complaint 11665052, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My vehicle has an outstanding recall (NHTSA Recall #23V337) from over a year and a half ago. There is still no update on when this will be remedied. The recall states there is potential for a "thermal event", which to me is a fancy way of saying fire. For an incident where my vehicle can catch fire, I expect a bit quicker of a response from BMW/Mini.

NHTSA complaint 11633046. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that the headlights, turn signals, windows, and the radio were inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was contacted, and it was diagnosed that there was no water leaking into the vehicle from the roof. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a claim for the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint 11606403. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

155,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the windows failed to roll down. Additionally, the contact stated that the headlights, the hazard lights, and the turn signals were inoperable. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated and the message "Light Malfunction, Contact Dealer" was displayed. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the

NHTSA complaint 11581682, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the MINI Cooper S

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2016 9 3 —
2015 18 4 —
2014 13 4 —
2013 24 1 —
2011 31 3 —
2010 59 4 —

Other 2012 MINI models

Every MINI on this site — 29 vehicles.

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. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

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.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst