Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 4 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
7 reports
55,000 miles · Feb 3, 2026
Engine And Engine Cooling
The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper Coupe. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. While inspecting under the hood, the contact discovered that cylinder #4 coil was charred, melted, and smoking, and the ECU was damaged. The vehicle was towed to the…
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The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper Coupe. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. While inspecting under the hood, the contact discovered that cylinder #4 coil was charred, melted, and smoking, and the ECU was damaged. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic, who determined that the failure was caused by an inoperable electronic auxiliary water pump. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V248000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 55,000.
NHTSA ODI #11715333
Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2024
Seat Belts
Seatbelt restraint has been inspected by a mechanic and a computer was connected for electronic fault codes. No codes were discovered, yet the car displaces a seatbelt restraint malfunction and request it be inspected at the nearest dealership. It also displays the seatbelt connection alert and sounds the alert buzzer. Mechanics…
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Seatbelt restraint has been inspected by a mechanic and a computer was connected for electronic fault codes. No codes were discovered, yet the car displaces a seatbelt restraint malfunction and request it be inspected at the nearest dealership. It also displays the seatbelt connection alert and sounds the alert buzzer. Mechanics find no issues or default codes I have personally inspected the components and had them replaced with not result
NHTSA ODI #11622789
Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2024
Electrical SystemFire
On Sunday, [XXX] I drove my car 34 miles to [XXX] . I parked right around 9:30am. Around 3:30pm we were getting ready to leave the track and we noticed smoke coming from my car. A friend told me to pop the hood but when I reached down to pull the release the area was in flames. Safety teams and the fire department were able to g…
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On Sunday, [XXX] I drove my car 34 miles to [XXX] . I parked right around 9:30am. Around 3:30pm we were getting ready to leave the track and we noticed smoke coming from my car. A friend told me to pop the hood but when I reached down to pull the release the area was in flames. Safety teams and the fire department were able to get the fire out before it got completely out of control. The car was towed to the Mini dealer in Madison, WI and the insurance adjuster said it was an electrical defect not covered by insurance. As I did more checking on things, I found that my make and model car had a recall for the same issue, only in Canada. I really don't understand how it could be recalled there, but not here (especially in WI where the road/weather conditions are basically the same as in Canada). I now have a dead car with an estimate for $30K worth of work that the insurance company, nor Mini will do anything about. I have owned the car since it was brand new and have kept it in great condition, making sure to follow the service and maintenance schedules. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #11614846
Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2019
Engine
IT'S SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM AND WITH ALOT OF STUFF WITH THIS CAR I GET ONE THING FIX IN TWO MORE THINGS GO WRONG WITH IT JUST HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #11219731
17,800 miles · Feb 13, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AT START UP AND DO NOT TURN OFF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AT THIS TIME. DEALER REPORTS THAT IT IS THE SZL MODULE (STEERING ANGLE SENSOR) IS FAILING. BMW ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE 2006 5 AND 6 SERIES FOR THIS SAME SENSOR. READING THE MINI FORUMS THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY…
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TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AT START UP AND DO NOT TURN OFF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AT THIS TIME. DEALER REPORTS THAT IT IS THE SZL MODULE (STEERING ANGLE SENSOR) IS FAILING. BMW ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE 2006 5 AND 6 SERIES FOR THIS SAME SENSOR. READING THE MINI FORUMS THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. CAR HAS 17,800 MILES
NHTSA ODI #10826020
2,000 miles · Feb 4, 2015
Engine
IN WEATHER BELOW ZERO F WHEN THE CAR IS LEFT OUTSIDE FOR OVER 8 HOURS THE ENGINE SOMETIMES STARTS IN "LIMP" MODE AND DOES NOT ALLOW FULL POWER UNTIL FULLY WARMED UP. THIS CAN TAKE OVER 10 MILES OF DRIVING, IDLING ALONE DOES NOT WARM UP THE ENGINE VERY QUICKLY IN BELOW ZERO WEATHER AND LIMP MODE. THE DANGER IS THAT LIMP MODE IS V…
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IN WEATHER BELOW ZERO F WHEN THE CAR IS LEFT OUTSIDE FOR OVER 8 HOURS THE ENGINE SOMETIMES STARTS IN "LIMP" MODE AND DOES NOT ALLOW FULL POWER UNTIL FULLY WARMED UP. THIS CAN TAKE OVER 10 MILES OF DRIVING, IDLING ALONE DOES NOT WARM UP THE ENGINE VERY QUICKLY IN BELOW ZERO WEATHER AND LIMP MODE. THE DANGER IS THAT LIMP MODE IS VERY LIMITED TO ENGINE POWER AND ONE BECOMES A HAZARD TO OTHERS WHEN SHARING THE ROAD. IN THE CLIMATE I LIVE IN THIS OCCURS A FEW TIMES A WINTER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. MY 2007 MODEL WAS RETRO FITTED WITH A REVISED INTAKE AND THAT RESOLVED THE ISSUE, BUT NO SUCH FIX HAS BEEN OFFERED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10681326
2,500 miles · Oct 11, 2012
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OCCUPIED BY A PASSENGER THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS IF THERE WERE NO PASSENGER PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500 AND TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OCCUPIED BY A PASSENGER THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS IF THERE WERE NO PASSENGER PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
NHTSA ODI #10479761
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2012 Mini Cooper Coupe Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year