2011 MINI Cooper S Countryman Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 MINI Cooper S Countryman, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON OCTOBER 7TH, 2014 THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE KEY SLOT. THE KEY IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE INSERTED TO START THE CAR BUT SIMPLY WITH YOU. HOWEVER, MY DAUGHTER HAD BORROWED THE CAR AND INSERTED THE KEY SO I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE DATE MENTIONED OR EARLIER. IT WAS IN FOR SERVICE ON AUGUST 25TH, 2014 SO SOMETIME BETWEEN THE TWO DATES THE FAILURE OCCURRED. I TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL DEALER, MINI OF DES MOINES, AND THEY ALSO COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY. THEY NOTICED THAT WITHOUT THE CAR RUNNING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT DEPRESSED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER COULD BE MOVED TO ANY POSITION. THEY DID NOT KNOW IF THIS WOULD OCCUR WITH THE CAR RUNNING, I.E. INADVERTENTLY HITTING THE SHIFTER INTO REVERSE OR PARK WHILE DRIVING. THEY ALSO DID NOT KNOW IF THE CAR WAS ACTUALLY IN PARK WHEN INDICATED SO. I LEFT THE CAR, WAS GIVEN A LOANER, AND WHEN THEY CALLED ME THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT LIQUID HAD SPILLED IN A CUP HOLDER AND LEAKED THROUGH THE UNSEALED SCREW IN THE BOTTOM ONTO AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I AM WELL AWARE OF LIQUID SPILLING INTO THE CUP HOLDER AS THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR DUE TO THE SPRING LOADED HOLDERS IN THE SIDE OF THE CUP HOLDER THAT I THEN REMOVED . THEY ARE ENGINEERED INCORRECTLY AND ALTHOUGH THE MANUAL STATES TO USE "LIGHTWEIGHT, NON-BREAKABLE CONTAINERS" THESE SPRING RETAINERS WILL POKE A HOLE IN STYROFOAM CUPS AND WILL COMPRESS A PAPER CUP, LIKE STARBUCKS, ENOUGH THAT LIQUID WILL EXPEL THROUGH THE TOP VENT HOLE AND DRINKING SLOT. IN ADDITION, WHILE ONE WOULD ASSUME THAT LIQUID WOULD OCCASIONALLY BE SPILLED IN A CUP HOLDER, AN ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING ERROR WAS MADE WHEN NO SEALING WASHER WAS USED ON THE RETAINING SCREW IN THE BOTTOM AND ANY LIQUID THE WOULD LEAK ON TO ANOTHER UNSEALED COMPONENT AND CAUSE THIS FAILURE. A $1,100.00 REPAIR COST FOR BMW'S INEPT ENGINEERING???
WITH JUST OVER 16000 MILES ON MY 2011 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN, MY CLUTCH IS BURNED OUT! HAVING IT TOWED TO THE CLOSEST MINI DEALERSHIP AT 70 MILES AWAY, THEY ARE SAYING THE FAILURE IS DUE TO ABUSE AND IS NOT COVERED BY MINI USA WARRANTEE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVER FOR OVER 40 YEARS WITH MOST OF MY CARS BEING MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, THE CLUTCH SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE 2011 & 2012 COUNTRYMAN MODELS AND NOW HAVE SAID...'AS PART OF THE CONTINUAL REFINEMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF MINI VEHICLES' THEY WERE MODIFYING THE CLUTCH ON THEIR 2013 MODELS! I AM STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH MINI USA ON WHO WILL PAY FOR THE REPAIRS ON WHAT I SEE AS DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR ENABLES AIRBAG WHEN EXTREMELY LIGHT ITEMS ARE PLACED IN THE SEAT SUCH AS A CELL PHONE. CAR COULD DEPLOY AIRBAG WITH SMALL OCCUPANT IN SEAT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,900. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .