2012 Mini Cooper S Countryman

Routine

Owners filed 26 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine10
010
Electrical System3
020
Unknown or Other2
000
Power Train2
000
Air Bags2
000
Structure › Body1
000
Steering1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch1
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump1
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
Air Bags
Filed Jan 10, 2026MI

Airbag light and seatbelt light are on continuously no matter if someone is in the seat or not.

Engine
Filed Jul 12, 2025SD

I purchased a 2012 MINI Cooper Countryman from LA Motorsports (703 1st Ave N, Windom, MN 56101) in November 2024. Prior to purchase, I specifically asked whether any open recalls remained, and the dealership assured me all had been completed. After the vehicle failed within 60 days, a certified MINI technician inspected it and confirmed the presence of stop leak and catastrophic internal engine damage. The technician also confirmed that the auxiliary water pump—subject to NHTSA Recall 18V-248, a federal Stop-Sale recall—was still actively leaking at the time of inspection, and that the recall was still open at the time of sale. This indicates the dealer sold the vehicle without completing the required recall, which violates federal law (49 U.S.C. § 30120(i); 49 C.F.R. § 573.11). I am reporting this as a violation of federal safety standards and consumer protection. I have evidence available, including a video inspection and technician report, and I am willing to provide those upon request.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Jun 22, 2025PA

We have had issues with every single door lock actuator assembly in this vehicle the passenger door will not latch shut at all! I'm sure how you could see this as a safety concern!

Electrical SystemFire
Filed May 12, 2025WV

I had been having trouble with my Footwell Module since the fall, but for months, I didn’t know what was going on!! The first time, October 2024, I went to Advance Auto Parts to get help bc it was raining and my windows were down, and I needed headlights, not to mention, the signals weren’t working. The second time it happened in January 2025, I didn’t go to Advance, I just disconnected the battery myself for a few hours. The third time it happened, first week of April 2025, I got home that night, cut my engine off, and noticed a light in my dash I hadn’t seen before. It was a fog lamp bulb, but the car was off, and it wasn’t like normal, it was an error light. When I walked around to the front if the car, I saw my fog lamps were still on, which was weird. All lights were off on toe column and dash. So, I restarted my Mini and cut her back off again, then the fog lamps went off. I had no park lights, or headlights then either. I didn’t check my windows. If they did go down they may not go back up! I didn’t check my turn signals either. I was just happy the fogs went off… It was after much research, that I ‘figured’ out what was going on with my Mini concerning all of the intermittent craziness, but it never occurred to me that there was a fire hazard. I actually looked into purchasing an FRM back in February, and had put it into my shopping cart, but it cost more than I could gather together at one time. I am pretty sure that is why my Mini caught fire & burned to a total los

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Aug 9, 2024125,000 milesIL

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S Countryman. The contact stated that on several occasions while in reverse(R) and the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to stop immediately. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic twice and a dealer once however, the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

Engine
Filed Aug 2, 2024LA

Oil keeps leaking back into motor and many car repair companies keep saying this is common and they won’t repair it because it’s not worth it also on another side the hood latch keeps breaking

Electrical System
Filed Jul 24, 2023126,000 milesOH

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S Countryman. The contacted stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the headlights, turn signals, horn, window regulators, and door locks became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System). The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Apr 24, 2022DE

Fire observed starting in the engine compartment from a red hot glowing spot on the auxiliary water pump, an electric powered pump on the front of the engine. The purpose of the auxiliary water pump is to continue to pump coolant through the turbocharger even after the engine was shut off. The vehicle was totaled by the insurance company after the inspection by the dealer created an estimate too high for the repairs to be made. Report of this incident to the phone no of BMW/MiniCooper customer service had no favorable response. They blamed the US Government for not including this VIN in the recalls for this fire caused by the auxiliary water pump.

Engine
Filed Mar 19, 2021118,421 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS AND COIL PACKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,421.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Oct 19, 202080,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UP A MOUNTAIN AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AN ENGINE PROBLEM MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED SOON AFTER RESTART. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS A WARRANTY ON HER VEHICLE FOR THE HIGH-PRESSURE PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MINI OF ONTARIO (1251 AUTO CENTER DR, ONTARIO, CA 91761) WHERE THEY INFORMED HER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE VALVE COVER, OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET O RING, FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL, OIL PUMP SOLENOID VALVE, WATER PUMP PULLEY DRIVE WHEEL, AND WATER PUMP ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 2, 2020MD

MY AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON DASH AND CENTER CONSOLE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND MULTIPLE SEAT MAT SENSOR FAULT CODES STORED. THE SEAT MAT IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY BY FAILING TO RECOGNIZE IF THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT AND/OR THEIR WEIGHT. AS A RESULT, THE AIRBAG MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY COMPLETELY OR INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY ON A PASSENGER WEIGHING LESS THAN 45 POUNDS. BOTH RESULTING IN ADDITIONAL INJURIES AND/OR DEATH. MY MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME MINI HAS HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES/RECALLS WITH THESE SEAT MAT SENSORS, AS DOCUMENTED IN MINI SERVICE BULLETIN DATE JANUARY 2019 (I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY). THE ISSUE AFFECTS NUMEROUS MINI MODELS MADE THROUGHOUT VARIOUS YEARS, INCLUDING 2012 WHICH IS THE SAME YEAR AS MY MINI. THESE SEAT MAT SENSORS DEFINITELY NEED TO BE REEVALUATED AND POTENTIALLY EXPAND THE RECALL/SAFETY ALERT TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL MODELS.

Steering
Filed Jun 17, 2020340,000 milesNC

STEERING ASSIST AS GONE OUT. NO STEERING. THE CAR HAS 34000 MILES. *TR

Engine
Filed Jun 3, 2020TX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MINI OF ARLINGTON (2001 N COLLINS ST, ARLINGTON, TX 76011) FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V248000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Structure › Body
Filed May 27, 202068,587 milesAE

DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR FAILS TO OPEN WHEN STATIONARY. USING REMOTE AND/OR THE INTERIOR UNLOCK TOGGLE ALLOWS THE UNLOCK INDICATOR ON THE UPPER DOOR SILL TO POP UP; HOWEVER, NEITHER THE INTERIOR NOR EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES, WHEN PULLED, OPEN THE DOOR. DRIVER MUST EXIT VIA WINDOW OR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. ALL OTHER DOORS OPERATE IN A NORMAL FASHION. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY FROM 2 MAY 2020 UNTIL 26 MAY 2020. CURRENTLY AS OF 26 MAY 2020, THE DOOR UNLOCK INDICATOR POPS UP OR DOWN WITH REMOTE OR INTERIOR TOGGLE, BUT FAILS TO OPEN WHEN INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IS PULLED. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND CAN BE IDENTIFIED ON VARIOUS WEBSITES. THOUGH THE YEAR AND MODEL MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN OURS, MANY PARTS ARE SHARED ACROSS MODELS AND YEARS. HTTP://FORUMS.PELICANPARTS.COM/MINI-DISCUSSION-FORUM/939545-DRIVER-DOOR-WONT-OPEN.HTML HTTPS://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/STOCK-PROBLEMS-ISSUES/187003-DRIVER-S-DOOR-WON-T-OPEN-FROM-INSIDE-OR-OUTSIDE.HTML HTTPS://WWW.MINI2.COM/THREADS/DRIVER-DOOR-STUCK-CLOSED-HELP.183918/ HTTP://WWW.PSMINI.ORG/FORUM/DRIVERS-DOOR-WONT-OPEN-FROM-INSIDE_TOPIC6265.HTML HTTPS://MINICOOPERFORUMS.COM/FORUM/2002-2006-MINI-COOPER-R50-11/MINI-COOPER-DOOR-WONT-OPEN-NOT-ACTUATER-3479/*DT*JB

Engine
Filed Apr 17, 2020NJ

THE FIRST IMAGE SHOWS A QUOTE FOR WORK THAT EDISON MINI STATED MY CAR NEEDS. THE SECOND IMAGE IS A SCREENSHOT I SAVED FROM THE INTERNET WHEN I RESEARCHED IF THE ISSUE WITH THE THE WATER PUMP IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR MY YEAR AND MAKE OF MY CAR. IS THERE A WAY WHERE YOU CAN HELP ME TO GET THIS WATER PUMP ISSUE CORRECTED BY MINI, AT THEIR EXPENSE? MY CAR IS A 2012, 8 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE A MERE 77,000 MILES ON IT.

EngineFire
Filed Oct 18, 201984,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS, THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND BLACK SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT AND A FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND FACILITY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. *LN*JB*PM*JB

Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger
Filed Aug 5, 2019112,000 milesNM

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR SENSOR FAULTS WHICH WERE COVERED IN RECALLS ON EARLIER MODELS ARE STILL A PROBLEM, YET NO LONGER COVERED FOR REPAIR. THIS SENSOR CONTROLS AIRBAG INFLATION DURING ACCIDENTS

Power Train
Filed Jul 30, 201941,000 milesCO

CLUTCH SLIPPING, TAKING A LOT OF RPMS TO GET MOVING, LOT OF CHATTER ACCELERATING AROUND CORNERS (LIKE MAKING A TURN FROM OUT OF A DEAD STOP). STALLED OUT AT BUSY INTERSECTIONS, AND AT TRAFFIC SIGNALS ON HILLS, NEARLY CAUSING A FEW ACCIDENTS. BACKING UP INTO DRIVEWAY, JUST TRYING TO GET OVER THE CURB SLOPE WAS ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BURNING SMELL FROM THE CLUTCH. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE CLUTCH IN THIS MAKE/MODEL YEAR SUBJECT TO PREMATURE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR (ONLY 7 YRS AND 40K MILES ON THIS VEHICLE - BY CONTRAST, I ALSO DRIVE A VW 10 YEARS OLDER WITH TWICE THE MILEAGE, CLUTCH STILL WORKING PERFECTLY). REPAIR TECH REPORT STATES CLUTCH WORN DOWN TO THE RIVETS, FLYWHEEL HEAVILY SCORED - VEHICLE HAS NO HISTORY OF RACING OR EVEN HEAVY USE, IS ONLY A DAILY DRIVER ON A SHORT (3 MI.) COMMUTE.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 24, 201993,000 milesMO

I HAD JUST EXITED ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND HAD NOT EVEN MADE IT TO THE NEXT EXIT RAMP, WHEN MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT SOUNDED AS IF A GUN SHOT HAD GONE OFF IN MY CAR. WE WERE HIT WITH SHARDS OF GLASS AS THE GLASS DID NOT SHATTER INTO SMALL PIECES. GLASS PIECES WERE 1+ INCHES LONG AND 1+ INCHES WIDE. WE HAD NO VEHICLES NEXT TO US. WE DID NOT FIND ANY DEBRIS IN THE CAR OR ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR EXCEPT FOR SHATTERED GLASS.

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 7, 2019109,000 milesCT

SIMPLY PUT, MY SHIFT CABLE DETACHED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I WENT FROM 1ST TO 2ND TO NEUTRAL TO STOP AT THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY TO LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE PULLING ONTO THE ROAD TO NO SHIFT CAPABILITIES WHATSOEVER. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED AT THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE I NORMALLY DRIVE TO GET TO WORK. I MANAGED TO POP THE LOOP END BACK IN PLACE, BUT FEAR IT MAY FALL OFF, AGAIN. DEALER WANTED 1K TO REPLACE SHIFT CABLES/HARDWARE. TWO CABLES IN MY SITUATION...

20 of 26 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2012
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2012 — this page26140Routine
201117210Routine

Compare every Cooper S Countryman year →

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.