The Used Car Index

2012 Mini Cooper problems

NHTSA lists 66 complaints for the 2012 Mini Cooper, 1 of them mention a crash and 7 mention a fire. 1 complaints mention an injury, with 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as MINI COOPER.

At a glance

Complaints
66
With crash
1
With fire
7
With injury (complaints)
1
Injuries
1
Deaths
0
Recalls
1
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
97,933
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
133

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2842.4%
ENGINE1725.8%
AIR BAGS1218.2%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER812.1%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING57.6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM46.1%
SEATS46.1%
POWER TRAIN34.5%
SERVICE BRAKES34.5%
SEAT BELTS23.0%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
AIR BAGSSENSOR3
STRUCTUREBODY1
VISIBILITYSUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags

These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.

Failure modes
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
fire or overheating1024.4%0.87
mechanical failure1024.4%0.93
restraint or airbag922.0%0.84
electrical electronic512.2%0.79
fluid or fuel leak37.3%0.87
loss of control37.3%0.89
noise or comfort12.4%0.67
Severities
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
moderate2458.5%0.74
low1229.3%0.79
critical37.3%0.71
high24.9%0.92

Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 41 tagged complaints of 66 complaints (62.1%).

Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.

Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

1 recalls.

23V337000

Date: 2023-05-11. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2014 MINI Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Clubman John Cooper Works, and 2007-2013 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ne (excerpt)

Consequence: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire. (excerpt)

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the sunroof drains, interior footwell area, and FRM and, depending upon the results of the inspection, certain components will be replaced. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-866-825-1525. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

133 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM42
ENGINE35
EQUIPMENT32
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING29
VISIBILITY7
SERVICE BRAKES6
POWER TRAIN5
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY4

11037535

Date: 2026-09-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

While performing a 12-Volt battery jump start, disconnect, or replacement, vehicle test, and/or programmingprocedure- the MINI Footwell Module (FRM) may become unresponsive. As a result, one or more of the following vehicle electric system-related issues may occur: Headlights including the high beam

11032745

Date: 2026-05-06. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

The Footwell Module (FRM) limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been supplementarily increased to 15 years / 186,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.

11031881

Date: 2026-04-30. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

While performing a 12-Volt battery jump start, disconnect, or replacement, vehicle test, and/or programming procedure- the MINI Footwell Module (FRM) may become unresponsive. As a result, one or more of the following vehicle electric system-related issues may occur: Headlights including the high bea

11015837

Date: 2025-03-18. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

The Footwell Module (FRM) limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been supplementarily increased to 15 years / 186,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.

11000632

Date: 2024-05-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

Hot-Film Air Mass Meter Return

10245428

Date: 2023-11-02. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Cavity protection applied to underside of the hood is leaking out onto the wheel arch trim and grille.

10244507

Date: 2023-10-25. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

MINI electrical systems have continued to develop over the past few years. As a result, the demand on the batteries has increased. Breakdowns due to an empty battery or problems in the vehicles electrical system can have various causes, most of which are not due to the battery itself. For this rea

10206696

Date: 2021-12-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT, WHEELS.

New RDC wheel electronics will be introduced with future generation MINI models. The new wheel electronics are identified as Huf Generation 5. These new wheel electronics will need to be programmed using the new tool when replaced or when depressurized (0 psi) for more than 2 minutes.

10179827

Date: 2020-08-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SEATS.

OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT - LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS/120,000 MILES: Component-Specific Limited Warranty Extension For the above-referenced vehicles, MINI USA, a division of BMW of North America, LLC (MINI USA) is extending the limited warranty for the front passenger's OC3 seat occupancy

10171506

Date: 2020-01-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.

CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT: N14 HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HDP) SERVICE BENEFIT CLASS VEHICLES: The MINI vehicle may experience a sudden engine operational failure reduced or loss of power while driving and the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) may be illuminated along with high-pressure fuel pumprelated

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
COOPER66

Same model, other years

All model years | All Mini models

Other Mini models, 2012

Sources

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