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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 · Body & structure · clear filters

Sep 26, 2023Visibility & wipersBody & structure

The contact owns a 2011 Mini Cooper. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact started to lower the convertible top, and the glass shattered before the convertible glass closed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

NHTSA ODI 11546536

Jul 22, 2023Body & structure

Water coming in from somewhere to the driver side front and rear floorboard only I've checked everywhere and taking it to a couple of shops replaced heater core and crossover holes checked for air condition leaks all checked out good windows seals good so ot must be a defect somewhere. 03

NHTSA ODI 11533845

Jan 18, 2012Transmission & drivetrainBody & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LINK BECAME STUCK AS THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE FROM A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT COFFEE HAD LEAKED INTO THE GEAR SHIFTER AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED ADVISED THAT BECAUSE THE CUP HOLDER WAS ABOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER, THE DESIGN WOULD ALLOW ANY SPILLED LIQUID TO EASILY ENTER THE SHIFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 03/23/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE COFFEE HOLDER SITS RIGHT OVER THE AREA WHERE THE DEALER SATED COFFEE RUINED THE TRANSMISSION COMPONENT. IT IS NOT SEALED AND THE PLACEMENT OF A LIQUID HOLDER OVER A VULNERABLE EXPENSIVE PIECE OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT WITHOUT ADEQUATE PROTECTION IS A NEGLIGENT DESIGN. UPDATED EVOQ 04/18/12

NHTSA ODI 10444433

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 →