What 119 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Mini Cooper Countryman

The car just randomly caught on fire while off in my driveway. Noticed a weird sound outside looked out and noticed the windshield wipers were going even though the car was off and I hadn't driven it. Opened the door to bellows of smoke coming out. fire department was called and had to rip it apart to get to the fire which was under the steering wheel in the left side

NHTSA ODI 11524794

Footwell module is not working due to rear left blinker is not signaling only the front light does work when turning left.

NHTSA ODI 11465066

The failed component is the "Footwell Relay Module" (FRM) which enables communication between the instrument panel in the passenger compartment and the engine control components in the engine compartment. When this component fails the following essential controls become inoperable: emergency flashers, turn signals, door locks, and windows. Most other "convenience features controlled by the car instrument panel become inoperable as well. This problem was confirmed by an independent technician, a technician at Mini of Stevens Creek in San Jose, CA, and the owner. No inspections of the part were ever done and the FRM failed without warning. This is a common failure in Minis due to a faulty design. The part is insufficiently protected from inrush current surge when a fully-charged battery is reconnected following service. It is also not sufficiently protected from induced voltage surges from EMI such as C, K or Ka band radar or electrical storms. One or more integrated circuits in the part are destroyed when exposed to current or voltage spikes rendering the part inoperable. The cost to replace the FRM (parts & labor) exceeds $1000.

NHTSA ODI 11455359

BOUGHT MINI FROM CARVANA A JANUARY 2020 AND HAVE HAD TOO MANY PROBLEMS. CAR OVERHEATED ON 48, HAD 2 NEW CYLINDERS PUT IN, 2 WEEKS LATER, DUE TO MANY NOTABLE PROBLEMS THIS CAR HAS HAD, ALL COOLANT LEAKED OUT AND WAS QUOTED BY MINI DEALERSHIP $9,000 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSED BY A RECALL NOT LISTED FOR MY YEAR

NHTSA ODI 11366813

BROUGHT 2012 MINI COUNTRYMAN S ALL4 W/50,033 MILES TO MINI SERVICE CENTER FOR COOLANT LEAK JUNE 2017. THEY REPLACED THERMOSTAT HOUSING, THERMOSTAT ADAPTER, COOLANT HOSE, AND WATER PUMP. 8000 MILES LATER LEAK IS BACK. WHILE TECHNICIAN WAS WORKING ON VEHICLE, HE STATED, 'OIL LEAKING FROM OIL PUMP SOLENOID VALVE. OIL LEAKING THROUGH OIL PUMP SOLENOID WIRING HARNESS.' HE ALSO STATED, 'THE LEAK IS INTERNAL AND NOT VISIBLE. THE OIL IS LEAKING THROUGH THE WIRING SHEATH AND MIGRATING TOWARD THE COMPUTER. IF THE OIL REACHES THE COMPUTER, THE COMPUTER WILL SHORT, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE.' TECHNICIAN REPLACED OIL PUMP SOLENOID AND REPAIRED ENGINE WIRING HARNESS.' DURING THE DAYS PERIOD OF TIME THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I DID SOME QUICK RESEARCH. I COULD NOT FIND AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE/ITEM; HOWEVER, THE NHTSA PUBLISHED A SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN CONCERNING THIS ISSUE (SB-10044680-8464) LOCATED AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2014/SB-10044680-8464.PDF APPARENTLY, THIS ISSUE WITH THE SOLENOID IS NOT NEW AND HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH PREVIOUS MINI MODELS AS WELL. INFORMATION/COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO PREVIOUS MINI MODELS CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/R60-COUNTRYMAN-TALK-2010-2015/237021-OIL-PUMP-SOLENOID-LEAK.HTML INFORMATION/COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE WITH THE SOLENOID FOR CURRENT MINI MODELS CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING LINKS: HTTPS://WWW.MINI2.COM/FORUM/SECOND-GENERATION-FAULTS-FIXES/250393-ISSUE-HIGH-PRESSURE-PUMP-OIL-PUMP-SOLENOID-LEAKING.HTML WHEN THE SERVICE/REPAIRS WERE COMPLETE, I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE CENTER MANAGER CONCERNING THE SOLENOID. HE AGREED WITH MY FINDINGS THAT MINIS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE FOR A GOOD NUMBER OF YEARS. I ASKED IF IT WAS A RECALL ITEM AND HE RESPONDED NEGATIVELY. IS THIS ON THE NHTSA RADAR FOR POTENTIAL RECALL STATUS?

NHTSA ODI 11142342

TAKATA RECALL. I LIVE IN NEWPORT, WA. I AM APPROXIMATELY 6 - 7 HOURS FROM A MINI DEALER IN SEATTLE/TACOMA. MY CLOSEST CITY IS SPOKANE, WA. I HAVE A GREAT CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DOES ALL OF MY REPAIR WORK BRANDON MARTIN OF MARTIN'S AUTO SERVICE, SPOKANE, WA, WHO IS COMPETENT AT WORKING ON MINI-COOPERS. IT IS UNREASONABLE TO REQUIRE THAT I MAKE A TRIP TO SEATTLE FOR THIS REPAIR. I AM WILLING TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE HERE AND BE REIMBURSED, BUT MINI WILL NOT ALLOW THAT. THEY ARE REQUIRING EXTREME TRAVEL AND EVEN AN OVERNIGHT STAY TO ABIDE BY THEIR OWN RECALL REGULATIONS. THEY DO SEEM TO MAKE THE RULES TO SUIT THEMSELVES; BECAUSE IF I HAD MADE THIS REPAIR PRIOR TO THE RECALL, THEY WOULD HAVE REIMBURSED ME, BUT NOW I CANNOT HAVE THE REPAIR DONE WITHOUT EXTREME ADDED EXPENSES INCURRED. DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF EXCESS TRAVEL, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT I AM ABLE TO MAKE THE RECALL REPAIR AND BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST. THIS IS NECESSARY FOR MY SAFETY. DUE TO THE COMPANY'S UNREASONABLE RULE, I AM AT RISK.

NHTSA ODI 11130381

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND, AFTER GOING OVER SEVERAL POT HOLES, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED, AND THE ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED. THIS IS WHEN I PULLED OVER INTO THE OFF RAMP, AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SPUTTERING STOP. I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT TO THE DIRT SIDE LANE OF THE OFF RAMP. I OPENED THE HOOD, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I COULD SEE BURNT CIRCUITS, BURNT PLASTIC, AND COOLANT LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND EXPOSED WIRING. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR IMMEDIATELY EXITING ONTO THE OFF RAMP, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. I COULD HAVE ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF THE FIRE; THIS FAULTY ENGINEERING BY BMW/MINI HAS ALREADY TAKEN THE LIFE OF A DRIVER IN SOUTH KOREA. BMW ISSUED A RECALL OF THE 2012 MINI COOPER S ROADSTER, BUT WHEN I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ONE OF THEIR SERVICE CENTERS, THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNAWARE OF THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE. I SEE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED, BUT WHEN I TYPE IN MY VIN, NO RECALL IS ATTACHED TO MY VEHICLE. BMW/MINI IS TAKING NO ACTION; THEY ARE HARMING AND KILLING DRIVERS OF ITS VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11120057

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND, AFTER GOING OVER SEVERAL POT HOLES, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED, AND THE ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED. THIS IS WHEN I PULLED OVER INTO THE OFF RAMP, AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SPUTTERING STOP. I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT TO THE DIRT SIDE LANE OF THE OFF RAMP. I OPENED THE HOOD, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I COULD SEE BURNT CIRCUITS, BURNT PLASTIC, AND COOLANT LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND EXPOSED WIRING. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR IMMEDIATELY EXITING ONTO THE OFF RAMP, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. I COULD HAVE ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF THE FIRE; THIS FAULTY ENGINEERING BY BMW/MINI HAS ALREADY TAKEN THE LIFE OF A DRIVER IN SOUTH KOREA. BMW ISSUED A RECALL OF THE 2012 MINI COOPER S ROADSTER IN SOUTH KOREA, BUT WHEN I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ONE OF THEIR SERVICE CENTERS, THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNAWARE OF THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE. I SEE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED, BUT WHEN I TYPE IN MY VIN, NO RECALL IS ATTACHED TO MY VEHICLE. BMW/MINI IS TAKING NO ACTION; THEY ARE HARMING AND KILLING DRIVERS OF ITS VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11120060

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND AFTER GOING OVER SEVERAL POT HOLES THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED AND AN ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED. THIS IS WHEN I PULLED OVER INTO THE OFF RAMP AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SPUTTERING STOP. I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT TO THE DIRT SIDE LANE OF THE OFF RAMP. I OPENED THE HOOD, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I COULD SEE BURNT CIRCUITS, BURNT PLASTIC, AND COOLANT LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND EXPOSED WIRING. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR IMMEDIATELY EXITING ONTO THE OFF-RAMP, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ODI 11119998

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATOR FLASHED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE DEALER (MINI COOPER OF ALEXANDRIA, 5990 DUKE ST, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22304, (703) 751-4630) WAS CONTACTED AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM ANY RECALL CAMPAIGNS. THE DEALER DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE, BUT ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED OTHER MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN VEHICLES, SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL HAD RECALLS FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE,HOWEVER, THIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. RECALL 18V248000- ELECTRIC AUXILLARY WATER PUMP FAILS AND OVER HEATS-MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN S 2012 AFFECTED. MY VIN NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL,DESPITE EXPERIENCING THIS EXACT ISSUE. WATER PUMP AND RELEVANT PARTS. UPDATED 10/9/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11114064

REAR BRAKE LIGHT BURNT AND MELTED. IT WAS REPAIRED AND NOW IT MELTED AND BURNT AGAIN BUT HAS CAUSED FURTHER DAMAGE REQUIRING THE WHOLE TAILLIGHT NEEDING REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11089223

I KEEP HAVING PROBLEMS ELECTRIC PROBLEMS ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON COIL BROKE BROKE DOWN WON'T START

NHTSA ODI 11083212

CAR KEY STUCK IN SLOT AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT. AFTER TAKING IT IN FOR REPAIR TO MINI COOPER, WE WERE INFORMED THAT MOISTURE WAS FOUND IN A COMPUTER WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE BEVERAGE HOLDER. YES, YOU READ THAT RIGHT. A COMPUTER UNDER THE BEVERAGE HOLDER AND NO MOISTURE BARRIER, NO PROTECTION OVER THIS COMPONENT.. NOW WHO DOES THAT? THERE IS NOTHING IN THE OWNERS MANUAL TO WARN YOU OF THIS NOR IS THERE ANY INDICATION ON THE BEVERAGE HOLDER ITSELF THAT INDICATES THERE IS A COMPUTER COMPONENT BELOW. HOW WOULD A CONSUMER KNOW? HONESTLY, WHO DESIGNS A CAR LIKE THIS? OF COURSE THERE WILL BE MOISTURE... ITS A BEVERAGE HOLDER FOR PETE SAKE! IT WAS A $1200. FIX. HAD I KNOWN OR BEEN PRE-WARNED SOMEHOW, I WOULD NOT HAVE USED THE DARN THING OR AT LEAST WRAPPED MY DRINKS IN A PAPER TOWEL. OF ALL THE PLACES TO PUT A COMPUTER, WHY WOULD ANYONE PLACE IT UNDER THE BEVERAGE HOLDER. I CAN ONLY GUESS THAT MINI COOPER COUNTS ON THIS REPAIR SOMETIME IN THE LIFE OF THE AUTOMOBILE. I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 10885732

STARTED CAR, RED SERVICE ICON ON DASH ALTERNATING WITH DRIVER DOOR OPEN ICON. THIS WAS A LOSS OF INTERIOR LIGHTS, SIGNAL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS, WINDOW UP/DOWN CONTROLS, AND DOOR LOCK FUNCTIONS. CAR OTHERWISE OPERATED NORMALLY. THIS MALFUNCTION REQUIRES DEALER ONLY REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10676175

PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED MINI NEXT 2012 CLUBMAN 6-SPEED WITH 6,498 MILES ON IT 08/2013. * 10/14/2013 AROUND 9K MILES LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE, MANEUVERED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. TOWED CAR IN TO DEALER WHO REPLACED 4 SPARK PLUGS SAID ALL WAS OK. * 10/17/2013 I PICK THE CAR UP, GET 3 MILES FROM DEALER ON INTERSTATE AND THE CAR DOES IT AGAIN SO I MANEUVERED OFF THE CLOSEST EXIT AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. TOWED BACK INTO DEALER AND THEY KEPT CAR UNTIL 26TH. THEY SAID THE DME WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT AND 4 FUEL INJECTORS. * 10/30/2013 CAR DID IT AGAIN AND I DROVE HOME IN LIMP MODE, CAR WAS SHAKING AND SOUNDED LIKE A 1970 VW BEETLE, NEARLY DIED AT EVERY IDLE, ROUGH, ACCELERATION AND I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY HAD CAR TOWED FROM MY DRIVEWAY BACK TO DEALER. *11/5/2013 DEALER STILL HAS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10551014

ONLY RUN 12000 MILE LESS THAN YEAR THERE IS RATTLE SOUND ON SPEEDOMETER" SPECIALLY NAVIGATION SCREEN. THEY TRY FIX THE PROBLEM, AND TELL ME , THEY CAN NOT FIX, BECAUSE IT COMING FROM SPEEDOMETER. AND PRINT OUR ONE PIECE PAPER, WHICH IS MINI OFFICIAL PAPER AS BELOW" SUBJECT: BUZZING NOISE FROM SPEEDOMETER SITUATION: WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DECELERATION THE CUSTOMER MIGHT EXPERIENCE A BUZZING NOISE FORM THE SPEEDOMETER, WHEN SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE IS BETWEEN 0 AND 12 MILES PER HOUR. GENERAL INFORMATION: THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION????. WHAT?? NORMAL? THIS SOUND MAKE ME CRAZY, SAME SOUND EVERYTIME I RUN. I WAS TALK TO MINI TEC PERSON, MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT MINI U.S.A DON;T RECALL ANYTHING. THEY SHOULD RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, SINCE THEY AGREE THERE IS NOISE FORM SPEEDOMETER" I HAVE PRINTED PAPER FROM MINI. ALSO THERE IS NOISE INSIDE OF CAR, THEY ALREADY FIX THE DASHBOARD, AND ,SIDE DOOR NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10502715

MY MINI WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BEHIND A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM THE BACK BY A CARELESS DRIVER IN A MIDSIZE SEDAN WHO HAD FAILED TO SEE THE CARS IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE DAMAGE DONE TO BOTH THE CAR THAT STRUCK MINE FROM BEHIND AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE 4 RUNNER WERE MINIMAL BY COMPARISON. THE MINI INCURRED IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND THE DRIVER OF THE 4 RUNNER PULLED ME OUT OF THE CAR DUE TO FIRE HE SAW COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE OF THE MINI, BEFORE LONG THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. SHOULD THE VEHICLE HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE? SHOULDN'T THE AIRBAGS HAVE DEPLOYED WITH THE GRAVITY OF THE DAMAGE? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10468763