What 25 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the fuel pump was defective, and the fuel pump was replaced. The contact stated that approximately a year later the failure recurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer and was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump had failed again and needed to be replaced. The fuel pump was replaced under warranty; however, the failure recently returned a third time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

NHTSA ODI 11665052

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 there is potential for a "thermal event", which to me is a fancy way of saying fire. For an incident where my vehicle can catch fire, I expect a bit quicker of a response from BMW/Mini.

NHTSA ODI 11633046

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that the headlights, turn signals, windows, and the radio were inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was contacted, and it was diagnosed that there was no water leaking into the vehicle from the roof. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a claim for the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11606403

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 50-55 MPH on the highway, the vehicle shut off inadvertently. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated that he was able to restart the vehicle after 15 minutes and continued driving; however, the failure recurred after exiting the highway. The vehicle was pushed to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the high-pressure fuel pump plausibility pressure was significantly low due to footwell control module failure. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11583792

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while merging onto a highway at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was not aware of any warning lights being illuminated. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the failure was an electrical failure. The battery and the main fuse box were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 121,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11582965

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the windows failed to roll down. Additionally, the contact stated that the headlights, the hazard lights, and the turn signals were inoperable. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated and the message "Light Malfunction, Contact Dealer" was displayed. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11581682

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed the turn signals were inoperable. The contact stated that the power switches to unlock or lock the doors were inoperable, and the power window switches were also inoperable. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 11550772

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11548359

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the turn signals were engaged but failed to respond. Additionally, the contact stated that warning lights indicated that the gas cap and trunk were opened, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact also stated that the windows failed to roll down, and the headlights and the fog lights were inoperable. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. An unknown local dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed to determine whether the failure was related to the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11547806

Nothing has failed yet, however, the oil stick is completely illegible. On a car that fails to have an electronic dipstick and likes to burn oil, as well as has a very small oil capacity (Around 5 liters or less) this design is going to cause the engine to run out of oil without the driver knowing. It is a seriously bad design, especially combined with BMW recommending a 10,000 mile oil change, the car will burn off all the oil it has and operator will have no idea due to the faulty design of the dipstick. I generally like BMWS engineering and designs, but this one is just atrocious and I have no idea how it got approved. Running a car out of oil usually causes the engine seize unless you shut it off at the right time, which, most people will not do. Imagine if your engine seizes on the highway? No it hasn't been inspected, I can send pictures of it, if you want? Or a video? I have not had this problem yet (knock on wood) but I have read the only warning sign, is the sound of an engine without oil and the oil pressure light comes on (which at that point you have maybe 3s to pull over and shut off the engine before it toasts the engine) I have also read about the engines consuming the entire oil capacity if you follow the BMW recommended schedule. It all just seems like a huge oversight for a company that usually has few issues.

NHTSA ODI 11514050

OUR VEHICLE HAS THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND I AM AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, THERE ARE MANY MINI OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS DEEPER THAN AN ISOLATED ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUES THAT WAS CONVERTED INTO A RECALL FOR SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE. MINI SHOULD CONSIDERED DOING AN INVESTIGATION AND EXTENDING THE RECALL TO OTHER YEAR MODELS INCLUDING MY 2012.

NHTSA ODI 11375677

I LOVE MY MINI COOPER S. BUT THERE IS A ISSUE. TODAY I STARTED UP THE CAR AND IT STARTS SMOKING. TWICE THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TWO WEEKS. WHEN I BOUGHT IT 2 YEARS AGO I NOTICED ON THE INSIDE OF MY HOOD OF THE CAR IT'S A BLACK BURNT MARK. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED. LAST WEEK I TOOK IT TO A OIL SHOP AND THEY SAID MY TURBO IS BURNING MY CAR AND WOULD CATCH FIRE SOON. I'M IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A NEW TURBO BUT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM CAUSE NOW IT'S SMOKING ONLY WHEN IN IDLE OR STARTED UP.BUT THE HOOD IS SUPER HOT AFTER A SHORT DRIVE. I HOPE YOUR CREW CAN LOOK INTO THIS PART AND SAVE SOMEONE THE TERROR OF A CAR ON FIRE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11365835

ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNIT WENT OUT

NHTSA ODI 11320446

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....WITHOUT ANY WARNING

NHTSA ODI 11301419

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING HISSING AND POPPING SOUNDS. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, A FRACTURED AIR FLOW SENSOR, AND SEVERAL OTHER FAILURES. CENTURY MINI (2930 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607, (800) 430-0508) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A REPAIR COST ESTIMATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. *DT THE FREEZE CAP BLEW FOR SOME MYSTERIOUS REASON.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11242890

WHILE MOVING IN TRAFFIC AND ACCELERATING, THE FUEL PUMP CUT OUT AND THE ENGINE DIED, FORCING THE DRIVER TO MANEUVER IN TRAFFIC (COASTING) EVENTUALLY COMING TO STOP IN A LEFT HAND TURN LANE WHICH WAS THEN BLOCKED WITH THE DEAD VEHICLE. THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS UNDAMAGED, THE POSSIBILITY OF A COLLISION EXISTED. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT MINIS FROM 2010-EARLY 2012 HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, RESULTING IN MINI USA EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE FUEL PUMP TO 10 YEARS/ 120,000 MILES. VEHICLES PRODUCED ON OR AFTER 3/1/2012 (INCLUDING MINE) WERE FITTED WITH DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT. NO RECALL WAS CONDUCTED. MY CAR HAD 25,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE FUEL PUMP FAILED.

NHTSA ODI 11233919

TAKATA INFLATORS" I NOTICE A BURNING SMELL INSIDE MY VEHICLE WHICH I REPORTED TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED "THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THEN I WOULD DEPART FROM MY CAR WITH THE WINDOWS UP SUNROOF CLOSED AND LOCK IT I WOULD RETURN THE WINDOWS WOULD BE ALL THE WAY DOWN AND TOP UP. THIS TOOK PLACE AGAIN ON 3/6/19.

NHTSA ODI 11184760

THERMOSTAT HOUSING BEGAN TO LEAK, THE PART IS PLASTIC AND HAD BECOME CRACKED UNDER NORMAL WEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11133584

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 55,005 MILES WHILE WE WERE DRIVING. WE TOOK IT TO BE SERVICED AND WERE TOLD THAT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING /THERMOSTAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. THIS CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO BE ILLUMINATED. THEY MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PART DATED 8/5/2016 ON THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR, BUT OUR VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOW COULD THAT BE? THE CAR IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE CONTACT ME ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11128556

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE CARPET WAS WET. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING, THE SOUND OF WATER SWISHING AROUND COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE BOTTOM AND THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE ALARM WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MINI OF MANHATTAN (793 11TH AVE, NEW YORK, NY 10019, (212) 586-6464), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11105132

VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN 24 MILES AND PARKED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WHEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. MASTER MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT ORIGINATED WITH THE COOLANT PUMP AND CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT WITH THE ELECTRONICS OF THE PUMP IGNITING A FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 10958534

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 WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURES RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED EXCEPT FOR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10886190

ENGINE RATTLING NOISE (TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER) AT ALL TIMES, VEHICLE HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES

NHTSA ODI 10852609

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THREE OF THE FOUR TIRE RIMS WERE CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE THREE TIRE RIMS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,342. DATED 01/23/15*LJ UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI 10660941

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE STRONG GASOLINE FUMES EMITTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXTINGUISHED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ODI 10617333