RoadVitals

2013 MINI Cooper Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
47
Latest Apr 14, 2025
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
14
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2013 MINI Cooper, 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

  • Electrical1930.6%
  • Airbags1219.4%
  • Fuel system58.1%
  • Seat belts46.5%
  • Engine46.5%
  • Visibility34.8%
  • Driver assistance34.8%
  • Exterior lighting34.8%
  • Powertrain (other)34.8%
  • Interior & seats23.2%
  • Body & structure11.6%
  • Steering11.6%
  • Tires & wheels11.6%
  • Other / unspecified11.6%

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

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

19
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Passenger occupancy sensor malfunctions all the time and there are hundreds of claims regarding this issue but was never addressed by the manufacturer The same issue prompted a recall in older models but has not been corrected in newer ones

NHTSA ID 11621760 · filed Oct 24, 2024

Blinkers stopped working and windows are no long rolling down

NHTSA ID 11609881 · filed Aug 21, 2024
All 19 reports naming electrical

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

12
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Error code is 93C3 Passenger Seat Occupancy Detector. This seems to be a known problem on almost every Mini Cooper and should be recalled and replaced. Car barely has 63k miles on it.

NHTSA ID 11654599 · filed Apr 14, 2025

Passenger occupancy sensor malfunctions all the time and there are hundreds of claims regarding this issue but was never addressed by the manufacturer The same issue prompted a recall in older models but has not been corrected in newer ones

NHTSA ID 11621760 · filed Oct 24, 2024
All 12 reports naming airbags

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Freeze plug randomly popped out while driving causing vehicle to stall in the middle of traffic almost causing a major accident and or death. Research indicates there has been numerous complaints by Mini Cooper owners experiencing the same issue of a premature unexplained failure with no action taken from Mini to mitigate this safety issue. I’m lucky to be alive.

NHTSA ID 11574805 · filed Mar 1, 2024

The fuel pump relay circuit board has a failed point in the soldering, causing the car to intermittently stall and die on the road. My safety was at risk because my car died randomly with no warning on a busy road. Can not even limp car to side of road. The part is being replaced by dealer where car was purchased, but a quick internet search provides thousands of similar results. There were no warning lights or any kind of code stored in the computer. I only had the car for one day before the car died so I am not aware of any prior warning signs.

NHTSA ID 11527183 · filed Jun 15, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

As per NHTSA there was a recall the replace OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT but I never received recall notice and just passed 10 years with 40K millage and started getting air bag light, dealer is not replacing it under warranty, if they was a recall they should have replaced my seat earlier so that I would not have this issue today. is there a way to extend warranty to longer time or recall all the cars and replace them so that we do not have to spend 2k to replace it? "01 11 16_OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT: LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS/120,000 MILES"

NHTSA ID 11617003 · filed Sep 28, 2024

The footwell module that controls the lights, brake lights windows and dashboard is faulty on all mini cooper of this module. Every time I change my battery or disconnect it the module brakes and the dealership knows this problem and still want to charge 1300 dollars to fix it it is a safety and hazard issue.

NHTSA ID 11562296 · filed Dec 28, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Freeze plug randomly popped out while driving causing vehicle to stall in the middle of traffic almost causing a major accident and or death. Research indicates there has been numerous complaints by Mini Cooper owners experiencing the same issue of a premature unexplained failure with no action taken from Mini to mitigate this safety issue. I’m lucky to be alive.

NHTSA ID 11574805 · filed Mar 1, 2024

Repeated experiences of sudden engine operational failure and reduced and/or complete loss of power while driving. The engine malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Car stalls and stops in traffic on the highway and on streets blocking traffic. Will not start again until powered off for periods between 5-15 minutes if at all. -First experienced the issue February 2020 and have intermittently experienced the same issue ever since. -Occurs when driving at a variety of speeds and a variety of fuel levels. -If diagnostics were able to reveal an issue both fuel pumps were noted as the cause on different occasions. The High Pressure Fuel Pump has been the most diagnosed and repaired issue. -Car has been diagnosed by the dealer and 3 independent service repair shops. Dealer stated no recall or existing issue that would cover this problem and have not received any notifications from the manufacture.

NHTSA ID 11449140 · filed Jan 27, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I HAVE A 2013 COOPER S AND WANTED TO REPLACE THE BLADES TO SOMETHING WITH A BIT MORE QUALITY (THE FAR RIGHT SIDE OF THE PASSENGER BLADE DOES NOT CONTACT THE LOWER CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD). AFTER 2 WEEKS USING NEW OEM WIPERS THEY LOSE THEIR FLEXIBILITY AND ARE LESS ABLE TO WIPE CLEANLY. MINI CHANGE DESIGN WIPER BLADE AND ONLY POOR QUALITY OEM BLADES AVAILABLE FOR REPLACEMENT, NO AUTOMARKET ALTERNATIVE. I HAVE CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERN ABOUT OEM MINI COOPER WIPERS

NHTSA ID 10954049 · filed Feb 11, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS FRACTURED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE AND WAS AT RISK OF COMPLETELY DETACHING. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED IN THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

NHTSA ID 10852862 · filed Apr 1, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

64,000 MILES - WINTER 2017 MY 2013 MINI COOPER PACEMAN SALL4 WAS TAKING ON WATER IN THE BOOT- DIDNT KNOW IF IT WAS FROM MELTING SNOW ETC. IN CAR. DRIED OUT. WATER CAME BACK AND FLOODED BACK SEAT FLOOR. BROUGHT TO MINI- THEY TOLD ME I HAD A TAILLIGHT SEAL LEAK WHICH CAUSED WATER TO GET DOWN INTO THE CAR WHICH FRIED A COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT CONTROLLED MY AWD AND OTHER THINGS. AWD IS NOT OPTIONAL WHERE I LIVE. MY WARRANTY HAD JUST ENDED. THE QUOTE FOR THE WORK WAS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I CONTACTED MINI CORPORATE THEY OFFERED TO COVER 15% OF THE BILL. I DENIED THAT AND CLAIMED IT ON MY INSURANCE WHICH NOW SHOWS NEGATIVELY AGAINST MY CAR. I DIDNT EVEN KNOW A TAILLIGHT SEAL COULD LEAK? THEN TO HAVE A COMPUTER GET FRIED AS A RESULT OF IT. THIS IS A MINI DEFECT, I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR IT. NOT TO MENTION MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR SEVERAL WEEKS OF REPAIR. THEY HAD TO COMPLETELY TAKE THE CAR APART TO DRY EVERYTHING OUT, ORDER PARTS AND REPLACE IT ALL.

NHTSA ID 11120591 · filed Aug 17, 2018

2013 MINI COOPER PACEMAN BASE AUTO. 05/30/2016- WE EXPERIENCE INSTANCES WHERE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE MAINTAINING SPEED AFTER RELEASING GAS PEDAL WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET, HIGHWAY, CITY STREET GOING DOWNHILL. DURATION OF THE PERIOD OF CONTINUED ACCELERATION MAINTAINING SPEED TYPICALLY LAST 1 TO 3 SECONDS. WE NOTED THAT THE OCCURRENCE OF THESE INSTANCES BEGAN RECENTLY AFTER ANNUAL SERVICE IN 05/2016. WE INQUIRED IF VEHICLE HAD RECENT SOFTWARE UPDATE. DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE ANY DEFECT. DEALER CITED ADAPTIVE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (ECU). DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE CITED THE SAME ISSUE WE ARE EXPERIENCING. DEALER RESET ECU UNIT. WE INQUIRED IF TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICE WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. DEALER OFFERED TO PERFORM TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICE AT OUR EXPENSE. NOTE VEHICLE STILL UNDER NEW CAR WARRANTY. DEALER ADVICE WHEN INSTANCE OF ACCELERATION OCCURS TO PRESS THE BRAKE. DEALER ADVISED US TO CHANGE DRIVING STYLE. WE CONFIRMED ALL REMEDIES AT DEALER LEVEL EXHAUSTED. WE CONTACTED MINI USA FOR ASSISTANCE AND INQUIRED IF TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICE WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, REQUESTED MINI USA WORK WITH DEALER TO COVER EXPENSE. MINI USA CONTACTED DEALER. MINI USA DECLINED TO COVER TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICE EXPENSE. MINI USA REFERRED US BACK TO DEALER SERVICE MANAGER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE AND CLOSED INCIDENT. MINI USA OFFERED TO HAVE REGIONAL REP MEET WITH US WHEN AT DEALER IN 09/2016. WE ACCEPTED OFFER TO MEET. 09/14/2016 WE CONTACTED MINI USA ABOUT MEETING WITH REGIONAL REP. MINI USA HAD NO RECORD OF OFFER OR REQUEST. WE INFORMED MINI USA ALSO EXPERIENCING SAME ACCELERATION ISSUE IN 2013 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN BASE AUTOMATIC. ANNUAL SERVICE FOR THIS VEHICLE IN 05/2016. WE ASKED IF PROBLEM IS ECU SOFTWARE RELATED. FOR THE RECORD WE INFORMED MINI USA THAT THEY HAVE DEEMED VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID 10906760 · filed Sep 14, 2016

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Blinkers stopped working and windows are no long rolling down

NHTSA ID 11609881 · filed Aug 21, 2024

The footwell module that controls the lights, brake lights windows and dashboard is faulty on all mini cooper of this module. Every time I change my battery or disconnect it the module brakes and the dealership knows this problem and still want to charge 1300 dollars to fix it it is a safety and hazard issue.

NHTSA ID 11562296 · filed Dec 28, 2023

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Freeze plug randomly popped out while driving causing vehicle to stall in the middle of traffic almost causing a major accident and or death. Research indicates there has been numerous complaints by Mini Cooper owners experiencing the same issue of a premature unexplained failure with no action taken from Mini to mitigate this safety issue. I’m lucky to be alive.

NHTSA ID 11574805 · filed Mar 1, 2024

64,000 MILES - WINTER 2017 MY 2013 MINI COOPER PACEMAN SALL4 WAS TAKING ON WATER IN THE BOOT- DIDNT KNOW IF IT WAS FROM MELTING SNOW ETC. IN CAR. DRIED OUT. WATER CAME BACK AND FLOODED BACK SEAT FLOOR. BROUGHT TO MINI- THEY TOLD ME I HAD A TAILLIGHT SEAL LEAK WHICH CAUSED WATER TO GET DOWN INTO THE CAR WHICH FRIED A COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT CONTROLLED MY AWD AND OTHER THINGS. AWD IS NOT OPTIONAL WHERE I LIVE. MY WARRANTY HAD JUST ENDED. THE QUOTE FOR THE WORK WAS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I CONTACTED MINI CORPORATE THEY OFFERED TO COVER 15% OF THE BILL. I DENIED THAT AND CLAIMED IT ON MY INSURANCE WHICH NOW SHOWS NEGATIVELY AGAINST MY CAR. I DIDNT EVEN KNOW A TAILLIGHT SEAL COULD LEAK? THEN TO HAVE A COMPUTER GET FRIED AS A RESULT OF IT. THIS IS A MINI DEFECT, I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR IT. NOT TO MENTION MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR SEVERAL WEEKS OF REPAIR. THEY HAD TO COMPLETELY TAKE THE CAR APART TO DRY EVERYTHING OUT, ORDER PARTS AND REPLACE IT ALL.

NHTSA ID 11120591 · filed Aug 17, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Passenger occupancy sensor malfunctions all the time and there are hundreds of claims regarding this issue but was never addressed by the manufacturer The same issue prompted a recall in older models but has not been corrected in newer ones

NHTSA ID 11621760 · filed Oct 24, 2024

As per NHTSA there was a recall the replace OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT but I never received recall notice and just passed 10 years with 40K millage and started getting air bag light, dealer is not replacing it under warranty, if they was a recall they should have replaced my seat earlier so that I would not have this issue today. is there a way to extend warranty to longer time or recall all the cars and replace them so that we do not have to spend 2k to replace it? "01 11 16_OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT: LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS/120,000 MILES"

NHTSA ID 11617003 · filed Sep 28, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, THERE WAS NO EVENT, THERE WAS NOTHING TO CAUSE THIS TO OCCUR. IT HAD BEEN PARKED OVERNIGHT IN AN OPEN AREA, AS IT WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE ONRAMP WHEN IT SOUNDED LIKE A WINDOW WAS OPEN, THEN ON THE HIGHWAY IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS ICE CRUST COMING OFF OF THE BACK OF THE CAR, THEN THERE WAS A RUSH OF WIND - PULLED OVER AND SAW THE SHATTERED ROOF. THANKFULLY THE SUNSCREEN WAS CLOSED SO THE GLASS DIDN'T POUR ONTO ME.

NHTSA ID 11072868 · filed Feb 14, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE EPS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ID 11030300 · filed Sep 28, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I purchased a used car from Carvana. It had brand new tires on the car when I took possession of it. The make and model of my car comes standard with run-flat tires because my car does not have a spare tire. Before Carvana sold the car they replaced the tires with non run-flat tires but did not inform me of this. One year after I took possession of the car, I had a flat tire and was stranded on the side of a busy highway for hours because I had no spare and the tires Carvana put on the car were not run flat tires. I think Carvana put my safety at risk just to save a few bucks. I have contacted them multiple times and they won't help me. I think they should replace the tires on my car with run flat tires since I'm still driving an unsafe car. They knew the car comes standard with run flats and they knowingly replaced the tires with non run flats. Can you help me?

NHTSA ID 11559619 · filed Dec 11, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I wrote to you before. My complaint number is/was:11559619. I never received a response from you. I explained in my previous complaint that I purchased a used car from Carvana in August of 2022. I bought a 2013 Mini Cooper S. This car comes standard with run-flat tires. When I took possession of the car there were 4 brand new tires on it. I drove the car for a year or so, and got a flat tire one night. There is no spare in this car because there is no room for a spare. I was stranded on the side of a busy highway with NON-run-flat tires and no spare because Carvana replaced the standard run-flats with non-run-flat tires. I had no way of knowing this until I got a flat and found myself stranded on the side of the road, alone, at night. Carvana never informed me that the tires they put on the car were not run flat tires, and they did not provide me with any type of flat tire pump or anything like that. They sold me an unsafe car! I am STILL driving a car with no spare and non-run-flat tires all because Carvana wanted to save a few bucks and figured I wouldn't find out until the 7-day or 30-day warranty had long ago expired. Carvana is guilty of selling an unsafe car. They know that the Mini Cooper comes with run flat tires and that there is no spare in the car, yet they didn't care and replaced the tires with cheaper non-run-flat tires. I have contacted Carvana multiple times but they just tell me that since I didn't report this issue within the 7-day return window I'm out of luck. How would I have known the tires they put on the car before selling it were not standard tires until I had a flat tire! I am not able to schedule my flat tire so that it happens within their short warranty window. I have contact the States Attorney General's office, the BBB, Consumer Affairs and eveyone tells me that they don't handle these types of complaints. I need you to help me get Carvana to replace the unsafe equip they put on the car with safe tires! PLEASE!!

NHTSA ID 11567151 · filed Jan 23, 2024

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

Data on this page last refreshed .