2012 MINI Cooper Countryman Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper Countryman. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle stalled. The fuel tank was a third of the way full. The trunk was locking and unlocking continuously while driving or while the vehicle was parked. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical system). The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that there was a short in the footwell module due to water intrusion. The drain was also clogged in the sunroof. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 161,818.

NHTSA ID

11609036

Incident

Jul 28, 2024

Mileage

161,818 mi

When the vehicle computer detects low voltage all turn signals, lights and instrument cluster immediately fail and do not turn back on. The Foot Well Module (FWM) or Foot Rest Module (FRM) computer becomes corrupt and deletes data from the module. This becomes a major safety hazard as a nighttime failure occurred causing several near accidents due to inability to signal to other vehicles. This is a known issue with Mini and they released an extended service bulletin knowing the factory footrest modules were manufactured incorrectly. Vehicles falling outside the initial warranty period are prone to safety risks when this occurs.

NHTSA ID

11542960

Incident

Sep 4, 2023

Mini coopers have faulty transmission problems, and well mine today it's transmission went out when I had my AC on, the car stalled in the middle of the highway in the middle of the road with oncoming traffic and refused to budge, like seriously this is highly dangerous on the interstate

NHTSA ID

11526625

Incident

Jun 12, 2023

Our Mini Cooper Countymen S was being towed behind our motorhome. I. saw smoke coming from the car I stopped and the car started to catch on fire. I got out motorhome disconnect just in time before the Mini was consumed by fire, it was a total loss. The Fire Investigator stated he believed the fire started in the right side of the engine compartment.

NHTSA ID

11489819

Incident

Oct 16, 2022

timing chain failure which caused engine shut down. this is a known problem with other models. It was not recalled but BMW lost a class action lawsuit for the same problem in the same car, different years. They have not updated or repaired the issue. very expensive repair.

NHTSA ID

11476173

Incident

Jul 27, 2022

The contact owned a 2012 Mini Cooper S Countryman. The contact stated while she was at a standstill in traffic, she saw smoke exiting from under the hood. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the emergency lane and exit the vehicle before the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The contact did not sustain any injuries nor seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The contact spoke to the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V248000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11440756

Incident

Nov 9, 2021

Mileage

180,000 mi

AFTER DRIVING FEW MILES (10) UP HILL OUT THE DEALER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURN ON. IT’S NOT BLINKING BUY SEEMS LIKE IT’S HALF AWAY ON THE SIGNED ON THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11416755

Incident

May 15, 2021

Mileage

10 mi

THE WATER PUMP IN THE CAR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON, CAUSING IMMEDIATE OVERHEATING AND THE HEAD GASKET ON THE ENGINE TO BLOW. MINI REFUSED TO FIX THE CAR, AS THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, DESPITE THE FAULTY WATER PUMP BEING THE CAUSE OF THE OVERHEATING.

NHTSA ID

11230081

Incident

Aug 29, 2018

Mileage

104,000 mi

THE CORE PLUG FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT INTO THE CRANK CASE. THE MINI AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR FACILITY SPECULATED THAT THE VEHILCE MUST HAVE BECOME OVERHEATED TO THE POINT OF DAMAGING THE CYLINDER HEAD. AT FIRST IS WAS THOUGHT THAT A REPLACEMENT CYLINDER HEAD WOULD COST $9K. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CRANK CASE WAS TO BADLY COMPROMISED FOR ADEQUATE REPAIR AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST THAT EXCEEDED THE MARKET VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. SINCE IT WAS NOT ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, I WAS FORCE TO PURCHASE AN ALTERNATE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. BEING THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NO LONGER BE DRIVEN WITH OUT A COSTLY REPAIR, I CHOSE TO DONATE IT FOR CHARITY. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IF THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT AS THE DRIVER INFORMATION GAVE NO ALERT. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPED WITH A TEMPERATURE WHICH MAY WHICH SHOULD HAVE INDICATED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS OUTSIDE OF NORMAL OPERATING PARAMETERS. HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHICH I PROMPTLY TOOK TO HAVE IT SERVICED. THE CODE WHICH INITIALLY PRESENTED AND PROMPTED ME TO VISIT THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR FACILITY TO BEGIN WITH. THE VEHICLE GAVE NO TEMPERATURE WARNINGS THROUGH THE DRIVER INFORMATION DISPLAY AND THE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT CHANGE; I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY WITH NO PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS, THERE ARE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS THAT CAN BE FOUND ONLINE OF DRIVERS THAT GAVE AN ACCOUNT SIMIULAR TO MY EXPERIENCE - FAILURRE OF THE CORE PLUG WITH NO NOTIFICATION THROUGH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AND, IN MANY CASES, THEY WERE ALSO TOLD BY THE MAKER'S REPAIR SHOP THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED BUT COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE DRIVER WAS NOT ALERTED. WHILE I DID NOT PAY FOR ACTUAL REPAIRS, I WOULD NOT HAVE NEEDED TO BUY REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. I ALSO HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MAINTENCE SCHEDULE.

NHTSA ID

11204131

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

DRIVING ON HWY AND MY CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE NO WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF ON THE CAR SO I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP THAT SAID THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF COOLANT LEAKAGE AND A MALFUNCTION OF THERMOSTAT SO THE ENGINE OVER HEATED. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME 10,000 TO FIX IT AND THE WARRANTY THAT I BOUGHT FOR 2999.00 DID NOT WANT TO COVER THE COST. SO THE SHOP CHARGED ME 1500.00 TO TAKE THE HEAD APART AND I HAD TO TOW IT BACK HOME WHERE IT SITS IN MY DRIVE WAY.

NHTSA ID

11194680

Incident

Sep 25, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

WATER PUMP LEAKING COOLANT. RECALLED ACCORDING TO BMW WEBSITE. CALLED MINI MALL OF GA NO ONE WOULD HELP OR CALL ME BACK AROUND THANKSGIVING. SCHEDULED APPT TODAY FOR REPAIRS MY HUSBAND DROVE MY MINI TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VIN NUMBER AND THE WATER PUMP WARRANTY EXPIRED DEC 11 2018......HOW CONVENIENT. MY 2012 ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT !!!!!! THE SERVICE DEPT AT MINI MALL OF GA IS A JOKE THEY WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE PAPERWORK MY HUSBAND HAD OR LISTEN TO WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO SAY. IT WAS LIKE SPEAKING TO ROBOTS THAT KEPT REPEATING THEMSELVES. I NEED THIS FIXED AND DO NOT HAVE THE 800.00 THEY ARE ASKING FOR

NHTSA ID

11163462

Incident

Nov 21, 2018

Mileage

55,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATOR FLASHED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE DEALER (MINI COOPER OF ALEXANDRIA, 5990 DUKE ST, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22304, (703) 751-4630) WAS CONTACTED AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM ANY RECALL CAMPAIGNS. THE DEALER DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE, BUT ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED OTHER MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN VEHICLES, SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL HAD RECALLS FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE,HOWEVER, THIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. RECALL 18V248000- ELECTRIC AUXILLARY WATER PUMP FAILS AND OVER HEATS-MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN S 2012 AFFECTED. MY VIN NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL,DESPITE EXPERIENCING THIS EXACT ISSUE. WATER PUMP AND RELEVANT PARTS. UPDATED 10/9/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11114064

Incident

Jul 7, 2018

Mileage

56,000 mi

CONFIRMED WITH MECHANIC FAULTY ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP, HOWEVER, MY VIN IS NOT LISTED IN THIS EXACT ISSUE THAT IS BEING RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

11114053

Incident

Jul 26, 2018

Mileage

30 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES IMMEDIATELY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. MINI OF MT. LAUREL (1311 NJ-73, MT. LAUREL, NEW JERSEY) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V248000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11104541

Incident

Feb 7, 2017

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT UNLATCHED THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MINI OF BALTIMORE COUNTY (720 KENILWORTH DR., TOWSON, MD 21204, (443) 798-3461) WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT NO VIN NUMBER UPDATED 8/30/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11092683

Incident

May 8, 2018

Mileage

76,000 mi

I KEEP HAVING PROBLEMS ELECTRIC PROBLEMS ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON COIL BROKE BROKE DOWN WON'T START

NHTSA ID

11083212

Incident

Mar 28, 2018

I'M JUST NOTICING A COOLANT LEAK PUDDLING UP UNDER FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS THE THERMOSTAT OR IT'S HOUSING OR BOTH.. MY ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT'S RUNNING WITH NO OIL. I GO TO CHECK THE DIPSTICK AND THE OIL AT THE VERY END OF IT SEEMS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCURATELY READ, BECAUSE IT'S NOT UNIFORM IN IT'S COATING AT THE TIP OF IT. LIKE IF IT WAS SPLASHED ON. NOT SURE IF THE AUXILIARY COOLING SYSTEM IS EVEN WORKING ANYMORE, WHICH USED TO RUN FOR A MINUTE OR TWO AFTER ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I'M ADDING THE OEM SPECIFIED COOLANT ALONG WITH WATER, 50/50, EVERY DAY NOW, BECAUSE THE RESERVOIR SHOWS IT'S LOSS OF COOLANT. VIN CHECK SHOWS NO RECALLS, BUT I'M HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS THE RECALLS. I JUST WANT MY VEHICLE RUNNING LIKE IT WAS WHEN I FIRST GOT. I BEGAN FINANCE ON THE VEHICLE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, AND I STILL OWE 16K ON IT. I SHOULDN'T BE WORRIED ABOUT THE CAR DYING OUT ON ME ALREADY. BAD ENOUGH I WORK 35 MINUTES AWAY AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION INCLUDING HELP FROM ANYONE IS ALSO PRETTY MUCH IMPOSSIBLE. IT'S STRESSING ME OUT BIG TIME. I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET FIRED. WHERE I WORK, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT MY ISSUES. I ALSO REQUIRE AN IID EQUIPPED VEHICLE, SO RENTALS ARE OUT OF THE QUESTION, OTHERWISE, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE HERE WRITING THIS MESSAGE! THANK YOU. I REALLY FEEL UNSAFE BEING ON THE HIGHWAY AS WHO KNOWS IF MY CAR'S ENGINE EVEN HAS OIL. OR IF THE COOLANT HOSES WILL JUST BLOW OFF. EITHER WAY, I FEEL LIKE I'M RIDING WITH DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. I TRIED TO BABY THIS CAR DRIVING, BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD A 16K BROKEN CAR. I FEEL TRAPPED.

NHTSA ID

11076410

Incident

Mar 5, 2018

Mileage

92,800 mi

I PURCHASED THE USED 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN, I DROVE IT FOR 84 DAYS, AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR THE ENGINE SUDDENLY WENT DEAD ON THE ROAD AND STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM AFTER TWO WEEKS THEY SAID THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED IT TO DESTROY THE ENGINE, NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE NEW ENGINE. I CHECKED ON LINE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS WITH TIMING CHAIN ON THESE CARS, MINI SAID THEY HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PREVIOUS MODEL CARS THAT MADE AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM, APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST IN THE NEWER MODELS.

NHTSA ID

11046285

Incident

Oct 30, 2017

MY 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN WITH 30,000 MILES IS REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP - BOTH OF WHICH WERE RECALLED AND REPLACED ON THE 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THERE ARE NOT ANY PARTS IN THE UNITED STATES CURRENTLY TO FIX THE CAR. WE WILL BE WITHOUT OUR CAR FOR NEARLY 3 TO 4 WEEKS WHILE WE WAIT FOR THESE PARTS AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO DRIVE OUR CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER SAID TOUGH LUCK.

NHTSA ID

10871243

Incident

May 24, 2016

Mileage

29,952 mi

TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED CAUSING TIMING TO BE OFF BY 75MM, THIS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE ECCENTRIC SHAFT AND TIMING CHAIN. ENGINE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED, UPON INSPECTION AT MINI DEALER DETERMINED THE ABOVE CONDITION OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10852760

Incident

Mar 21, 2016

Mileage

112,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOSE PIPE AND FREEZE PLUG OVERHEATED AND MELTED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO REQUIRE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ID

10845785

Incident

Jan 17, 2016

Mileage

44,000 mi

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I WENT IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. I LIVE 2.5 HOURS FROM A MINI SERVICE CENTER. THE DIAGNOSTIC AT AUTOZONE JUST LISTED A BUNCH OF MISFIRES AND NOTHING ELSE. THAT EXPLAINED THE HARSH SOUNDING START AND SPUTTERING. AS DAYS HAVE GONE BY, CAR WILL LOSE POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, STRUGGLE UP HILLS, FAIL TO MAINTAIN SPEED LIMIT, AND STRUGGLE TO START IN THE MORNING. ALL THESE EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER BEING SERVICED AT SEATTLE MINI. I'M SURE I'M UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT HAVING TO DRIVE 2.5 HOURS IF I CAN MAKE IT THERE, FOR SOMETHING THEY SEEM TO HAVE BEEN HAVING COMPLAINTS ABOUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10681435

Incident

Feb 5, 2015

Mileage

42,581 mi

OUR 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN WAS PARKED IN PARKING GARAGE. WITHIN MINUTES OF SHUTTING IT OFF THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHICH SPREAD QUICKLY. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. OTHER CARS NEXT TO IT WERE AFFECTED AND THE FLOOR OF THE PARKING GARAGE WAS CLOSED DUE TO DAMAGES. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10633032

Incident

Aug 19, 2014

Mileage

30,000 mi

ONLY RUN 12000 MILE LESS THAN YEAR THERE IS RATTLE SOUND ON SPEEDOMETER" SPECIALLY NAVIGATION SCREEN. THEY TRY FIX THE PROBLEM, AND TELL ME , THEY CAN NOT FIX, BECAUSE IT COMING FROM SPEEDOMETER. AND PRINT OUR ONE PIECE PAPER, WHICH IS MINI OFFICIAL PAPER AS BELOW" SUBJECT: BUZZING NOISE FROM SPEEDOMETER SITUATION: WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DECELERATION THE CUSTOMER MIGHT EXPERIENCE A BUZZING NOISE FORM THE SPEEDOMETER, WHEN SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE IS BETWEEN 0 AND 12 MILES PER HOUR. GENERAL INFORMATION: THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION????. WHAT?? NORMAL? THIS SOUND MAKE ME CRAZY, SAME SOUND EVERYTIME I RUN. I WAS TALK TO MINI TEC PERSON, MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT MINI U.S.A DON;T RECALL ANYTHING. THEY SHOULD RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, SINCE THEY AGREE THERE IS NOISE FORM SPEEDOMETER" I HAVE PRINTED PAPER FROM MINI. ALSO THERE IS NOISE INSIDE OF CAR, THEY ALREADY FIX THE DASHBOARD, AND ,SIDE DOOR NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10502715

Incident

Mar 2, 2013

Mileage

12,000 mi

THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR DIED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVE SHAFT BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 14000 MILES ON A 2012 VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAKING A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE AND RUSTING OUT FROM THE AXLES BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THEY COULD FIT ME IN FOR AN APPOINTMENT. THE GRINDING CONTINUOUSLY GOT WORSE UNTIL WHEN THEY TOOK IN THE CAR TODAY REALIZED THE PROBLEM WAS MUCH WORSE THAN ANTICIPATED. IT SEEMS I AM NOT THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL TO HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10491920

Incident

Jan 8, 2013

Mileage

14,240 mi