RoadVitals

2011 MINI Cooper S Countryman

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Feb 24, 2025
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Apr 18, 2018
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 17 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 MINI Cooper S Countryman, most frequently naming the engine, electrical and powertrain (other) categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 112 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine626.1%
  • Electrical521.7%
  • Powertrain (other)521.7%
  • Exterior lighting313.0%
  • Airbags28.7%
  • Brakes14.3%
  • Fuel system14.3%

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.gov

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

Apr 18, 2018
47,806 units potentially affected
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.
The risk: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.
BMW of North America, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

Jan 11, 2012
90,368 units potentially affected
The defect: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2011 MINI COOPER S, 2008-2011 MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN, 2009-2011 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE, 2009-2011 MINI COOPER JCW, 2009-2011 MINI COOPER JCW CLUBMAN, 2009-2011 COOPER JCW CONVERTIBLE, AND 2011 COOPER S COUNTRYMAN PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 14, 2006, THROUGH JANUARY 18, 2011. THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP THAT COOLS THE TURBOCHARGER HAS AN ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BOARD THAT CAN MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT.
The risk: THE CIRCUIT BOARD MAY SMOLDER WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WATER PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGANDURING FEBRUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-866-275-6464.
BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE11036ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

Engine compartment fire

Opened Oct 11, 2011
Closed Jun 11, 2012

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.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGLed to recall 12V008000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Feb 24, 2025

My father has the same year mini cooper and has a recall on the foot control module. He actually just got it fixed even though he hadn't had any issues with it yet. My mini has had the foot control module go bad. My car is unusable. I have no interior lights, no dash lights, no turn signals, no blowers, the windows controls don't work. I had to drive it once because I hit a deer with my other vehicle and nearly got rear ended because they didn't know I was turning and it over heated............ I do not understand why my dad got a recall and I haven't. Please HELP

NHTSA ID
11644516
Incident
Dec 23, 2024
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed May 9, 2024

The contact owns a 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the battery became drained. The contact replaced the battery. The contact stated that after replacing the battery, the turn signals and brake lights failed to work as needed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to get the vehicle shipped to a dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

NHTSA ID
11587828
Incident
May 30, 2020
Mileage
119,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 19, 2022

The contact owns a 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman. The contact stated while parked there was white smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the battery and CS module needed to be replaced. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.

NHTSA ID
11461317
Incident
Apr 8, 2022
Mileage
79,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 9, 2021

THE COOLANT THERMOSTAT HOUSING IS ALWAYS MAKING A PROBLEM. I SEE THERE IS EXTENDED WARRANTY ON OTHER YEARS MODEL. BUT IT HAS TO BE INCLUDED MY VEHICLE'S YEAR. THEY USES SAME THERMOSTAT HOUSING AND MAKING A SAME PROBLEM. LEAKS OR IT STUCK OPENED/CLOSED VERY EASILY. WITHIN A 3 YEARS I NEED TO CHANGE THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING/ TIMES WITH OEM PART. FIRST TIME IT MAKES A PROBLEM AT AROUND 90000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
11387266
Incident
Mar 26, 2018
Airbags
Filed Oct 29, 2018

WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT SEAT, THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF DURING THE COURSE OF TRAVEL OR SITTING STILL. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES, WHETHER IT BE ON A CITY STREET, FREEWAY, ETC.

NHTSA ID
11143593
Incident
Oct 28, 2018
Mileage
17,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 25, 2018

MY TURBOCHARGER FAILED IN 2017. I REPLACED WITH A NON OEM TURBOCHARGER. WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MIN EXTENDING THE WARRANTY AFTER OUR REPAIR. MINI IS REFUSING TO REIMBURSE PARTS COST AND INSTALL BECAUSE NON OEM PARTS. THIS SHOULD NOT MATTER ACCOUNT PARTS WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO EXTENDED WARRANTY BEING COMMON KNOWLEDGE.

NHTSA ID
11142708
Incident
Aug 1, 2017
Engine
Filed Jul 6, 2018

ENGHINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON SINCE PURCHASE IN 2015 AND WE HAVE ALREADY INVESTED SEVERL $ TRYING TO GET TO THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM. IT ALWAYS COME BACK ON POWER LOSS AND RATTLING SOUND TOOK TO BMW DEALER AND PAID FOR "TROUBLESHOOTING" WAS TOLD BY BMW SERVICE TECH NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT COULD SMOKE AD DIE! THE TIMING CHAIN AND GUIDES NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL AND LAWSUIT FOR THIS THROUGH 2010 BUT MY VEHICLE IS A 2011....CAR COULD SMOKE OUT AND DIE ANY MOMENT. 86272 MILES YEAR 2011 CALLED BMW FILED A COMPLAINT BUT THATS NOT FIXING THE ISSUE. WE DO NOT FEEL THAT WE SHOULD INVEST ANOTHER 5K+TO FIX THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11109819
Incident
May 1, 2017
Mileage
84,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 12, 2018

AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CODE CAME UP DURING A SMOG CHEG INSPECTION.

NHTSA ID
11101355
Incident
Jun 9, 2018
Mileage
102,073 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

M610607

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 “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.

M360119

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.

M640108

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

Air Conditioning System Leak Testing. The customer complains of poor or no air conditioning cooling. After further diagnosis, the system is found to be low or empty of a refrigerant charge, but when using an electronic leak detector, no leak can be found. CAUSE: In most cases, an electronic leak detector is not sufficient for identifying small leaks in the system. Electronic leak detectors can give false alarms and can lead to an improper diagnosis of small leaks. A leak cannot be located exactly if accessibility is impaired (in the case of the expansion valve, evaporator or condenser).

M010218

EQUIPMENT

N18 THERMOSTAT WITH THERMOSTAT HOUSING: LIMITED WARRANTYEXTENSION TO 10 YEARS/ This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI M01 02 18 dated May 2018.

M010218

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

N18 THERMOSTAT WITH THERMOSTAT HOUSING: LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS/ This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI M01 02 18 dated May 2018.

M230108

POWER TRAIN

"MANUAL TRANSMISSION - STIFF DIAGONAL GEARSHIFT LEVER MOVEMENT. The customer may complain of a ""stiff diagonal shift"" (e.g., N-R, R-N, 2-3/3-2 or 4-5/5-4). Also, in some cases, gears cannot be selected, or the selector gear does not go into the neutral position. CAUSE 1. The deflection lever circlip of the gearshift mechanism is damaged or missing. 2. Possible corrosion at the gearshift mechanism (shift cables or transmission gearshift unit)"

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

MINI Cooper S Countryman by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2012261047.8
2011Viewing172146.7

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.