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)

6 of 87 complaints match · Engine & cooling · 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

Dec 22, 2013Engine & coolingFuel system

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2011 MINI COUNTRYMAN S ALL4 IN REGARDS TO CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR FOR SERVICE OF THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR 4 TIMES NOW. EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN CAUSED BY FUEL IN THE CHARCOAL FILTER SYSTEM. EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS FROM OVERFILLING THE FUEL TANK, WHICH I DO NOT DO. I AM CAREFUL TO STOP FUELING THE FIRST TIME THE PUMP KICKS OFF, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST 2 TIMES THE DEALER CHANGED THE CHARCOAL FILTER AT NO COST. THE 3RD TIME THEY CHANGED THE FUEL TANK AT NO CHARGE. I HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT A YEAR, AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR CAME ON AGAIN ON 12/18/13, I SCHEDULED SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. TURNS OUT THAT FOR THE 4TH TIME FUEL WAS IN THE CHARCOAL FILTER. THE DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM AND THIS IS VERY ANNOYING TO SAY THE LEAST. WOULD LIKE TO TURN IN THE CAR NOW, LEASE ENDS IN 7 MONTHS, AND STAY AWAY FROM BMW AND MINI FROM NOW ON!! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10556980

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

Sep 7, 2011Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO PARK HOWEVER, THE GEAR WOULD NOT REMAIN SECURE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. IN ADDITION, THE OIL PUMP GASKET AND MAP THERMOSTAT WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,504. UPDATED 10/12/11*LJ UPDATED 3/30/12 *CN

NHTSA ODI 10424148

Aug 31, 2011Engine & cooling

2011 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE BROKE DOWN WHILE TRAVELING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE FAILED WHICH CAUSED OIL TO LEAK UNDER THE HOOD. BMW REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE ON THE GROUNDS THE VEHICLE HAD AN OVER REV-MISSED SHIFT THAT WAS AN AFTER MARKET PART THE CONSUMER HAD INSTALLED. AN INSPECTION SHOWED A BORE SCOPE WAS USED TO VERIFY THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE CROWN OF ONE PISTON INDICATING THAT DURING THE OVER REV, A VALVE HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE PISTON. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10423458

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 →