ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2012 MINI Cooper S
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 23 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 MINI Cooper S, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and fuel system categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 152 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2014 | 1 | 1 |
| Nov 2014 | 1 | 2 |
| Mar 2016 | 1 | 3 |
| Jul 2016 | 1 | 4 |
| Mar 2017 | 1 | 5 |
| Jul 2018 | 1 | 6 |
| Oct 2018 | 1 | 7 |
| Mar 2019 | 1 | 8 |
| Jul 2019 | 1 | 9 |
| Jan 2020 | 1 | 10 |
| Apr 2020 | 1 | 11 |
| Oct 2020 | 1 | 12 |
| Nov 2020 | 1 | 13 |
| Mar 2023 | 1 | 14 |
| Oct 2023 | 3 | 17 |
| Apr 2024 | 3 | 20 |
| Aug 2024 | 1 | 21 |
| Dec 2024 | 1 | 22 |
| Jun 2025 | 1 | 23 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical1343.3%
- Engine413.3%
- Fuel system413.3%
- Body & structure26.7%
- Other / unspecified13.3%
- Powertrain (other)13.3%
- Airbags13.3%
- Seat belts13.3%
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.govENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the fuel pump was defective, and the fuel pump was replaced. The contact stated that approximately a year later the failure recurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer and was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump had failed again and needed to be replaced. The fuel pump was replaced under warranty; however, the failure recently returned a third time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11665052
- Incident
- Feb 1, 2023
- Mileage
- 87,000 mi
My vehicle has an outstanding recall (NHTSA Recall #23V337) from over a year and a half ago. There is still no update on when this will be remedied. The recall states there is potential for a "thermal event", which to me is a fancy way of saying fire. For an incident where my vehicle can catch fire, I expect a bit quicker of a response from BMW/Mini.
- NHTSA ID
- 11633046
- Incident
- May 12, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that the headlights, turn signals, windows, and the radio were inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was contacted, and it was diagnosed that there was no water leaking into the vehicle from the roof. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a claim for the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
- NHTSA ID
- 11606403
- Incident
- Apr 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 50-55 MPH on the highway, the vehicle shut off inadvertently. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated that he was able to restart the vehicle after 15 minutes and continued driving; however, the failure recurred after exiting the highway. The vehicle was pushed to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the high-pressure fuel pump plausibility pressure was significantly low due to footwell control module failure. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- NHTSA ID
- 11583792
- Incident
- Jun 30, 2023
- Mileage
- 116,000 mi
The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while merging onto a highway at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was not aware of any warning lights being illuminated. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the failure was an electrical failure. The battery and the main fuse box were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 121,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- NHTSA ID
- 11582965
- Incident
- Apr 4, 2024
- Mileage
- 121,000 mi
The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the windows failed to roll down. Additionally, the contact stated that the headlights, the hazard lights, and the turn signals were inoperable. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated and the message "Light Malfunction, Contact Dealer" was displayed. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- NHTSA ID
- 11581682
- Incident
- Feb 8, 2024
- Mileage
- 155,000 mi
The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed the turn signals were inoperable. The contact stated that the power switches to unlock or lock the doors were inoperable, and the power window switches were also inoperable. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11550772
- Incident
- Aug 15, 2023
- Mileage
- 140,000 mi
The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- NHTSA ID
- 11548359
- Incident
- Oct 5, 2023
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; 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.
SEATS
OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT - LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS/120,000 MILES: Component-Specific Limited Warranty Extension For the above-referenced vehicles, MINI USA, a division of BMW of North America, LLC (MINI USA) is extending the limited warranty for the front passenger's OC3 seat occupancy mat (shown) to: 10 years/120,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT: N14 HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HDP) SERVICE BENEFIT CLASS VEHICLES: The MINI vehicle may experience a sudden engine operational failure reduced or loss of power while driving and the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) may be illuminated along with high-pressure fuel pumprelated faults stored in the Engine Control Module (DME). PROCEDURE Perform the corresponding diagnosis/vehicle test and run the test plans to completion as applicable.
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).
EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
Service Action: Checking or Replacing the Door Sill Trim Strips. The door sill trim strips are deformed and/or peeling up at the corners. CAUSE: Insufficient surface preparation of the door sill.
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 5 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 9 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 62.6 |
| 2014 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 51.8 |
| 2013 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 42.9 |
| 2012Viewing | 23 | 2 | 0 | 46.3 |
| 2011 | 31 | 3 | 1 | 57.8 |
| 2010 | 59 | 4 | 1 | 59.7 |
| 2009 | 119 | 3 | 1 | 52.3 |
| 2008 | 168 | 4 | 2 | 58.6 |
| 2007 | 249 | 4 | 3 | 61.8 |
| 2006 | 186 | 1 | 0 | 40.9 |
| 2005 | 314 | 2 | 2 | 55.6 |
| 2004 | 247 | 2 | 2 | 55.4 |
| 2003 | 217 | 2 | 5 | 62.0 |
| 2002 | 83 | 1 | 3 | 53.5 |
| 2001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
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.