2010 MINI Cooper S Convertible

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.

The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper Convertible. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V205000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic and it was determined that the front passenger occupant detection sensor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.

NHTSA ID

11509535

Incident

Jan 2, 2023

Mileage

24,000 mi

THE SOUND OF THE MOTOR IS VERY VERY NOISE, AND SHAKES REALLY BAD AFTER YOU START THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11337176

Incident

Jul 18, 2017

THE VEHICLE IS A STANDARD MODEL CONVERTIBLE, NOT AN "S" MODEL. TRUNK LATCH MALFUNCTION WHILE IN MOTION: TRUNK LATCH OPENS/DISENGAGES SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, WITH THE KEY INSERTED AND THE MOTOR RUNNING. THIS UNPREDICTABLE FAULT CAN OCCUR ANYWHERE, INCLUDING ON A FREEWAY. THE TRUNK LID CAN DROP TO FULL OPEN, EXPOSING ITEMS STORED IN TRUNK AS POSSIBLE DEBRIS-THREAT TO VEHICLES FOLLOWING. DRIVER OF VEHICLE IS PRESENTED WITH CHOICE BETWEEN RISKING STOPPING (FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE SHOULDER OF A FREEWAY) OR RISKING INCIDENT INVOLVING FOLLOWING VEHICLES. EVENTUALLY, TRUNK LATCH WILL CEASE ALL FUNCTION. REPLACEMENT COST IS APPROXIMATELY $300 PLUS LABOR. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. THIS 2010 MODEL IS DRIVEN 2 OR 3 TIMES PER WEEK FOR RELATIVELY SHORT DISTANCES. IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN FEWER THAN 30,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THIS FAULT HAS OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS. ITEMS IN TRUNK HAVE SPILLED ONTO ROADWAY. DRIVER HAS HAD TO STOP AND SLAM THE TRUNK CLOSED. THE INCIDENTS LIKELY WOULD HAVE OCCURRED MANY MORE TIMES IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN DAILY AND FOR LONGER DISTANCES. TRUNK LATCH SYSTEM WAS REPLACED AND THE NEW LATCH SYSTEM BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING IN THE SAME MANNER WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF REPLACEMENT. DATE LISTED BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT DATE UPON WHICH THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.

NHTSA ID

11163240

Incident

Dec 16, 2018

Mileage

12,000 mi

LATCH ON TRUNK UNLOCKS AND RELEASES THE TRUNK WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAN CAUSE THE CONTENTS OF THE TRUNK TO FALL ON TO THE ROAD ENDANGERING OTHER DRIVERS. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ON THE MINI OWNER SITE

NHTSA ID

11098795

Incident

May 14, 2018

Mileage

40,110 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON I 280 EAST AND NEWAR EXIT 8B THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. THERE WAS LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY TIGHT. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRACTOR. I GOT OUT OF THE EXIT (EXIT 7) AND GOT MYSELF TOWED. THE MECHANIC THINKS IT IS THE TIMING BELT THAT IS BROKEN.

NHTSA ID

10823201

Incident

Jan 29, 2016

Mileage

52,000 mi

KNOCKING, TIMING. OVER 2 THOUSAND SIGNATURES OF OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10692738

Incident

Feb 13, 2013

Mileage

30,000 mi

ENGINE NOISE DUE TO TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER DEFECT. IF THE CHAIN OR TENSIONER FAIL COMPLETELY THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL IN MOVING TRAFFIC OR CREATE A ROADSIDE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10547666

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

10,500 mi

THE AIRBAG "OFF" LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10454469

Incident

Sep 15, 2010

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.

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 beams, and/or taillights are not turning on or off Interior lights are not turning on Turn indicators are not working Instrument cluster indicator lights stay on The IHKA climate control system is not working Power windows are not working Folding mirrors are not working, and/or a Functional remote-control key FOB will not unlock and lock the doors

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.

The Footwell Module (FRM) limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been supplementarily increased to 15 years / 240,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.

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 “discharged battery” 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.

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.