Car Problem DataNHTSA records

2012 Mini Cooper S Convertible

Routine

Owners filed 3 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System2
000
Power Train1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/Supercharger18V248000
Filed Apr 18, 201847,806 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. 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.

Remedy. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Sep 8, 2025IL

FRM Footwell module failed leaving car stranded Problem identified by certified mechanic. Similar models (R55 & R56) in the same age range of my vehicle have been issued a recall, but the convertible model, in the same year, (R57) is not covered. All electric switches in the vehicle failed. Symptoms began with the ABS and parking brake warning lights lighting. Other warning light was a service light.

Electrical System
Filed Jul 20, 2024NC

The Footwell Module, referred to by the manufacturer as the FRM, has corrosion inside. The module is currently staying active and drawing power from the battery at all times. It appears to the same issue as 23V337000, but this chassis number is not included in the recall. I believe that this vehicle has as large a fire hazard as other vehicles involved in the recall.

Power Train
Filed Nov 2, 2020118,000 milesNH

COILS CAUSED PROBLEM WITH ECU - RECALL IS OUT FOR SOME MODELS BUT NOT THIS ONE. NOW IT NEEDS NEW COILS AND NEW DME.

3 of 3 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2005
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2012 — this page3100Routine
20114210Routine
201010110Routine
20099100Routine
20087110Routine
20078210Routine
200636120Routine
200561140Routine

Compare every Cooper S Convertible year →

Other Mini models

All Mini models →
Cooper 2,235Cooper S 1,780Cooper Convertible 173Cooper Clubman 116Cooper Countryman 107Countryman 103Cooper S Clubman 90Clubman 80Cooper S Countryman 43Cooper Clubman S 34

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 18, 2018. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.