Page 2 of 2 · complaints 51–66 of 66

2012 Mini Cooper complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2012 record →

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 21, 201624,239 milesCA

DRIVING 45 MPH ON BUSY CITY FOUR-LANE ROAD, I BRAKED GRADUALLY IN APPROACH TO RED LIGHT, WHICH IS MY NORMAL BRAKING STYLE. CAR DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP--BRAKES ONLY WORKED TO A POINT BUT DID NOT COMPLETELY STOP CAR; SIMULTANEOUSLY ENGINE REVVED TO VERY HIGH RPM. I THREW TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF IGNITION LEST MY CAR RAM CAR AHEAD OF ME. VERY FRIGHTENING. AT PREVIOUS TWO LIGHTS I HAD NOTICED THAT BRAKES WERE ACTING FUNNY, NOT BRINGING CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP BUT I HAD LEFT PLENTY OF BRAKING DISTANCE AND WAS ABLE TO LET CAR ROLL TO A STOP, IN SPITE OF BRAKES NOT EFFECTING A COMPLETE STOP . AT THOSE TWO LIGHTS THE RUNAWAY ENGINE (HIGH RPM) DID NOT OCCUR OR I WOULD HAVE PULLED OVER RIGHT THEN. HOWEVER, ENGINE REVVING TO HIGH RPM HAS ALSO OCCURRED OCCASIONALLY WHEN PULLING INTO GARAGE BUT I HAD NOT GIVEN THIS A LOT OF THOUGHT BECAUSE I HAVE QUICKLY TURNED OFF IGNITION. NOW I KNOW IT'S VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. OF COURSE I AM NOT DRIVING IT BUT AM HAVING IT TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AT DEALER AND HAS 24,239 MILES ON IT. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A NECESSITY FOR REPAIRS ON THIS MINI COOPER CLUBMAN.

Air Bags1 injured
Filed May 5, 201643,000 milesOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG ABRUPTLY DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK, AND ARMS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. PRIOR TO THE DEPLOYMENT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WAS NOT CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

Engine
Filed Apr 5, 201610,800 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LEAKAGE ON THE OIL CONTROL VALVE. AS A RESULT, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE OIL CONTROL VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,800.

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 12, 201623,000 milesDC

BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILING AT 23,000 MILES... RIDICULOUS.

Engine
Filed Jan 14, 201655,000 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO CHARGER AND THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Steering
Filed Nov 26, 2015FL

WHEN DRIVING 2 MONTHS AGO,WAS DRIVING WITH MY MOM 9/13/1015,ALL 4 MILESTAR TIRES BUSTED,DEALER REPLACED THEM WITH CHARGING ME 150.00 DEDUCT,NOW SAME PROBLEM OCCURED 11/25/2015,RIGHT PASSAGER SAME BRAND BUSTED,NOW MY CAR IS IN SHOP AGAIN MISSING WORK,STUCK IN FORT MYERS RIGHT NOW,IF IT WASN'T FOR MY FAMILY I WOULD NOT BE HERE WITH THESE TIRES,THE NAME OF THE TIRES MILE-STAR

EngineCrashFire
Filed Jul 29, 201566,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE AFTER IT STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED INTO A PARKING LOT, WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED SOME MINOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD AS A FIRE STARTED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Engine
Filed Jul 21, 201520,705 milesTX

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CAUSE: HEATING FAULT CODE IN DIAGNOSIS(THERMOSTAT ACTIVATION). THERMOSTAT, HOUSING , AND ADAPTER REPLACED. REMOVED AND REPLACED COOLANT, CHECKED COOLING SYSTEM FOR LEAKS. 06/17/2015 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AGAIN, AND AFTER TAKING TO DEALERSHIP IT APPEARS TO BE THE THERMOSTAT AGAIN.

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 5, 2015OH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THERE WAS A HISSING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO SALT AND SHOULD GO AWAY OVER TIME. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,954.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 17, 201585,000 milesCT

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

Seat Belts
Filed Sep 7, 201428,473 milesCA

RIGHT AND LEFT SEATBELT A JAMMED. WILL NOT RELEASE. THIS WAS REPAIRED AND THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON MAY 14, 2014. *TR

Power Train
Filed Feb 24, 201429,230 milesCO

2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN MANUAL TRANSMISSION. LIVE IN A MOUNTAINOUS REGION IN COLORADO. NOTICED A PECULIAR SMELL COMING FROM THE CAR AFTER BEING STUCK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS GOOD TO GO. FEW DAYS LATER WHEN ON VACATION DRIVING THROUGH NEVADA, THE CLUTCH COMPLETELY GAVE OUT & LEFT US STRANDED FROM 8:30 AT NIGHT UNTIL 2:30 IN THE MORNING BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK COULD GET TO US. DEALER VERIFIED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS INOPERABLE AND REPLACED THE CLUTCH DISK, FLYWHEEL, AND PRESSURE PLATE UNDER WARRANTY. MANAGER SAID THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THEY HAVE SEEN A FEW TIMES PREVIOUSLY. NOW, 12,000 MILES (41,000 TOTAL) AND 6 MONTHS LATER, THE SAME THING AS HAPPENED. BUT NOW, MINI IS SAYING THAT IT'S "DRIVER ERROR" OR "WEAR AND TEAR" AND NOT COVERED. DEALER SERVICE MANAGER STILL ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THE REGION WE LIVE IN. HOWEVER, I AM EXPECTED TO COME UP WITH $3,000 TO FIX THIS PLUS KEEP PAYING A NEW CAR PAYMENT. I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS/TRUCKS/MOTORCYCLES/SPORTS CARS FOR 35 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH A CLUTCH GOING OUT ON ME BEFORE. THIS IS MY 3RD MINI, AND IT WILL BE THE LAST I WILL EVER OWN, I CAN'T WAIT TO GET RID OF IT. MINI HAS HAD ENOUGH TROUBLE WITH THIS THAT THEY CHANGED THE CLUTCH IN THE 2013 MODELS. EXTREMELY UPSET WITH THEM AS A COMPANY THAT THEY CAN'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND FESS UP THAT THEY DIDN'T PUT A CLUTCH IN A CAR THAT WAS APPROPRIATE TO HANDLE THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. DON'T BUY ON

Power Train
Filed Dec 18, 201316,000 milesCA

ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP FAILED TWICE WITHIN A YEAR. MANUAL TRANSMISSION - CLUTCH DOES NOT ENGAGE GEARS PROPERLY. FRICTION POINT IS VAGUE AND UNENGAGING. GEAR SLIPS. REQUIRES EXCEEDINGLY HIGH REV. COUNTS/GAS TO ENGAGE IN GEAR PROPERLY. CAR STALLS MORE THAN NORMAL/OFTEN. OVERALL FUEL INJECTION/ECU MAPPING/CLUTCH ISSUES ARE EVIDENTLY AND REPEATS TO BE PROBLEM AREAS DESPITE PARTS REPLACEMENT AND ADJUSTMENT (ECU RE-MAP). FROM THE OWNER'S EXPERIENCE, THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING ON THE FREEWAY DUE TO FUEL PUMP FAILURES (TWICE) THUS CREATING ROAD HAZARD FOR FELLOW DRIVERS ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED AS WELL AS MY OWN PERSONAL SAFETY. ALSO, DUE TO STALLING ISSUES OFF THE LINE, ENTERING FREEWAY AFTER METER-SIGNAL IS ALSO DANGEROUS IN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS CREATING POTENTIAL THREAT TO SAFETY. MANUFACTURER NEED TO ADDRESS BROAD ISSUE OF FUEL SYSTEM/POWERTRAIN/CLUTCH BEFORE ANYONE GETS SERIOUS HURT OR INJURED TO SUDDEN IMMOBILITY/STALLS. IN PARTICULAR, THE CLUTCH IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS SO BAD THAT IT DOES NOT FULFILL THE INTENDED FUNCTION OF ENGAGING GEARS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Nov 5, 20139,030 milesGA

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

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Oct 16, 20122,821 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS NA 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE GAS SETTING AND FUEL PUMP WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,821.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 2, 201222 milesSC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURBO CHARGER WAS NOT PROPERLY SHIELDED AND THE HOOD DID NOT HAVE ANY INSULATION. AS A RESULT, THE HOOD WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22. UPDATED 03/14/12*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER PROVIDED ADDITIONAL HEAT SHIELDS. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT COMPLETELY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 05/10/10

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2012 Mini Cooper → · Every Cooper year → · How the figures are calculated →