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2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
25 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 21, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Electrical system problems dominate (52% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#33 of 395Among the 2012 models with a matured record, the 2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman ranks #33, scoring higher than 86% of them. See the 2012 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (13)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Electrical system
52%13 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“My vehicle has an outstanding recall (NHTSA Recall #23V337) from over a year and a half ago. There is still no update on when this will be remedied. The recall states …”
Engine
24%6 complaints · typically near 50k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY ONCE AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED BY MINI COOPER AND AGAIN SECOND TIME ON INNER ROADS DRIVING AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.…”
Fuel system
16%4 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY ONCE AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED BY MINI COOPER AND AGAIN SECOND TIME ON INNER ROADS DRIVING AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.…”
Body & structure
8%2 complaints
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN WITH…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 1 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 25 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 2 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Engine And Engine Cooling · 18V248000
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.
Risk: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Mini before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 50k miles). Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2012 Mini COOPER S CLUBMAN beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every Cooper S Clubman model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.