AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2007 MINI Cooper S Convertible
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2007 MINI Cooper S Convertible, most frequently naming the airbags, engine and interior & seats categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 24 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 2009 | 1 | 1 |
| Mar 2012 | 1 | 2 |
| Jul 2014 | 1 | 3 |
| Aug 2014 | 1 | 4 |
| Oct 2014 | 1 | 5 |
| Jan 2015 | 1 | 6 |
| Jul 2015 | 1 | 7 |
| Apr 2018 | 1 | 8 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Airbags562.5%
- Engine112.5%
- Interior & seats112.5%
- Steering112.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
2 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govEQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
Engine compartment fire
In a January 10, 2012 letter to NHTSA, BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) identifying a defect in the electric auxiliary water pump in approximately 88,911 model year (MY) 2007-2011 Mini Cooper vehicles manufactured from November 14, 2006 through January 18, 2011 (Recall 12V-008).According to BMW, the auxiliary water pump on vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder turbocharged engines may overheat.Electro-migration can cause the pump electronic circuit board to overheat resulting in smoldering of the water pump. If smoldering occurs, it may lead to an engine compartment or vehicle fire.The pump supplier, Pierburg Pump Technology GmbH, redesigned the pump to address factors that may contribute to circuit board overheating.The redesigned pumps were completely implemented in production vehicles by January 2011.Recall 12V-008 was the third recall initiated by BMW to address electric auxiliary water pump fires in vehicles equipped with Pierburg pumps.In two October 20, 2011 letters to NHTSA, BMW submitted DIRs for similar auxiliary water pump defect conditions in approximately 32,084 MY 2008-2011 BMW 5-Series, 7-Series, X5 and X6 models equipped with 8- and 12-cylinder engines and manufactured from May 2008 through December 2010 (Recall 11V-521); and for approximately 589 MY 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost vehicles manufactured from September 2009 through September 2010 (Recall 11V-522).In three separate April 5, 2012 letters to NHTSA, BMW submitted amendments to Recalls 11V-521, 11V-522 and 12V-008.The amendments all described a common defect condition related to a manufacturing process deviation in a certain production range of the redesigned Pierburg water pumps that could result in cracks in the pump housing, which may allow coolant to enter and contact the pump?s circuit board.BMW indicated that further analysis identified a specific machine process error at the sub-supplier that manufactures the water pump housing.Pump housing cracks may cause the circuit board to overheat and lead to smoldering of the water pump.Recall 12V-008 was, thus, amended to include approximately 1,457 MY 2011 Mini Cooper vehicles manufactured from March 31, 2011 through April 22, 2011, when pumps manufactured with the suspect manufacturing process may have been used in vehicle assembly.The amendment to Recall 11V-521 was assigned a new recall number, Recall 12V-161, and covered approximately 2,846 MY 2011-2012 BMW 5-Series, 6-Series, 7-Series, X5, and X6 vehicles manufactured from April 1, 2011 through August 1, 2011.The amendment to Recall 11V-522 was assigned a new recall number, Recall 12V-166, and covered approximately 69 MY 2011 Rolls-Royce Ghost vehicles manufactured from April 7, 2011 through June 2, 2011.The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by BMW as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers. In total, there were 30 unique Mini Cooper reports indicating engine fire.In addition, BMW provided warranty data showing 493 claims for replacement of the subject component on Mini Cooper vehicles.Owners of the recalled vehicles are notified to take their vehicle to a BMW dealer, who will replace the auxiliary water pump to prevent any incidents related to this issue.This preliminary evaluation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be viewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers (ODI Nos.):10286597, 10286663, 10289793, 10310677, 10314796, 10342365, 10394808, 10394192, 10403982, 10418325, 10422646, 10429003.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
THE SEATS' HEATING ELEMENTS HAD BEEN REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO. THIS MONTH I BROUGHT THE CAR TO ND FROM TX AND WE USED THE HEATED SEATS HERE. THE SEATS' WERE VERY HOT. TODAY I NOTICED THREE BURN HOLES IN THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHERE IT CONTACTS THE DRIVER'S BACK.
- NHTSA ID
- 11089231
- Incident
- Apr 21, 2018
- Mileage
- 45,808 mi
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND FLAMES STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND BURNT TO THE GROUND. CAR ONLY HAD 27000 MILES ON IT AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND IN PERFECT CONDITION.
- NHTSA ID
- 10743624
- Incident
- Jul 27, 2015
- Mileage
- 27,500 mi
PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINS LIT AT ALL TIMES WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OPEN OR OCCUPIED BY A PASSENGER (150 LBS). *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10669663
- Incident
- Jul 1, 2010
- Mileage
- 25,000 mi
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY GOES OUT, ALMOST HIT 2 CARS TRYING TO GET OFF FREEWAY. PARKED THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES, STARTED IT BACK UP AND STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED HALF A DOZEN TIMES. I WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GET THIS REPAIRED WITHOUT IT COSTING ME $$$$. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10645036
- Incident
- Oct 17, 2012
- Mileage
- 65,000 mi
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DISABLED LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THERE WAS AN ADULT MALE (198 LBS) IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT REMAINED LIT WHETHER SOMEONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT INDICATING THE SYSTEM WAS DISABLED AT ALL TIMES. THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE SEATBELT TENSIONING SYSTEM IS CONTROLLED VIA THIS SAFETY SYSTEM WHICH MEANT THAT IT WAS DISABLED AS WELL. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED BY A MINI SERVICE PROVIDER (DEALER WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED AS NEW) AS A FAULTY PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR LOCATED IN THE SEAT BASE AND WAS REPAIRED AS VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. EXACTLY TWO YEARS AND 3 MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM HAS RECURRED BUT BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT SENSOR IS WARRANTIED FOR ONLY TWO YEARS FROM INSTALLATION I WAS INFORMED THE COST TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM WOULD BE $1400.00. THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE BMW 3,4 & 5 SERIES AND WAS HANDLED BY A RECALL BUT BMW (MINI PARENT COMPANY) HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE SAME FAULT WITH THEIR MINI COOPER LINE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10622655
- Incident
- Apr 4, 2012
- Mileage
- 20,000 mi
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILED, AIRBAG LIGHT AND PASSENGER OCCUPANCY LIGHT ARE ILLUMINATED. COST TO REPLACE IS AROUND $1K. THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS FOR MODELS UP TO 2005, BUT THIS MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10615906
- Incident
- Nov 1, 2013
- Mileage
- 610,000 mi
PASSENGER AIR BAG DISABLED LIGHTS (DASH AND ABOVE REAR VIEW MIRROR) ARE ON INDICATING NO PASSENGER IS PRESENT (THUS DISABLING THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM) EVEN WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL IS OCCUPYING THE SEAT. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND BOUGHT THE SUPPLEMENTAL BMW WARRANTY WHICH I WAS TOLD EXTENDED THE SUPPLIED WARRANTY FROM 4 YEARS/50,000 MILES TO 6 YEARS/100,000 MILES AND COVERED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BUT WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. AND THE PRIOR YEAR MODEL OF MINI (2006) DID HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ADDRESSED AND THE WARRANTY EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS RELATING TO THE SAME SENSOR FAILING. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10452842
- Incident
- Feb 20, 2012
- Mileage
- 26,000 mi
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING THAT THERE IS A FAULT WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND THE SYSTEM IS INACTIVE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10273763
- Incident
- Mar 15, 2009
- Mileage
- 14,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
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 reason, a battery replacement will permanently eliminate the problem only in the rarest of cases. The energy diagnosis test module helps to localize these causes. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle âÂÂdischarged batteryâ complaints. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of a discharged battery cannot be identified. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time, it is very important that the diagnostic test plan is performed to completion; with all results taken into consideration.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; ENGINE; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Programming a Replacement EGS Module with ISTA/P. Programming a replacement electronic transmission control module (EGS) with ISTA/P requires the manual entry of the correct target basic and programmed part numbers. Programming concept.
ENGINE; EQUIPMENT
MINI Water Pump Class Action Settlement
STEERING
This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI 32 02 14 dated August 2014. SUBJECT Installation of Right-Hand Drive Steering Spindle in Left-Hand Drive Vehicle is No Longer Required. Left-hand drive steering spindles are currently available.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
MINI: SOME VEHICLES HAVE TURBOCHARGER NOISE AND A LACK OR LOSS OF PERFORMANCE, DUE TO RESTRICTION OF TURBOCHARGER OIL SUPPLY, RESULTING IN OIL STARVATION AND SEIZING OF TURBOCHARGER ASSEMBLY. MODEL ALL. *PE
POWER TRAIN
MINI CVT Replacement Parts Warranty Extension: Additional 12 Months with Up to 50,000 Accumulated Miles. A MINI vehicle's CVT assembly or component that was previously repaired and/or replaced by an authorized MINI dealer or BMW center may experience a subsequent failure.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.