Home · 2011 Mini Cooper Hardtop · Complaints

What 87 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Mini Cooper Hardtop

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (87)Crash / fire / injury (7)Electrical system (37)Airbags (18)Engine (13)Transmission & drivetrain (10)Lights (9)Fuel system (8)Engine & cooling (6)Brakes (4)Seats (4)Body & structure (3)

3 of 87 complaints match · Engine & cooling · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Mar 2, 2016Engine & cooling1 injury

LETTER FROM SENATOR FLAKE ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2011 MINI COOPER. (PLEASE RESPOND BY FAX OR ELECTRONIC MAIL: BOB_BRUBAKER@FLAKE.SENATE.GOV). *SMD THE CONSUMER RECEIVED EXTREMELY, PAINFUL , SCARING BURNS FROM THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE WHILE LEANING OVER TO RETRIEVE ITEMS FROM THE TRUNK. THE CONSUMER STATED IF ONE IS FACING THE CENTER TRUNK, THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE IS LOCATED DIRECTLY TO THE RIGHT, APPROXIMATELY 10 INCHES OFF THE GROUND. THE METAL IS NOT COATED TO OFFER PROTECTION. *JB UPDATED 03/07/16.*JB UPDATED 04/11/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI 10839479

May 2, 2012Engine & coolingFire

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 ODI 10457204

Jul 6, 2011Engine & coolingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A BMW 2011 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE BEGIN SMOKING AS HE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE JUST AS IT IGNITED INTO FLAMES, FOLLOWED BY AN EXPLOSION. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES FROM THE EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED BY THE STATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK TO HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120.

NHTSA ODI 10410757

Working with the data? Download all 87 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 27, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Mini Cooper Hardtop verdict →