2010 MINI Cooper S recalls and problems

The 2010 MINI Cooper S has 4 safety recalls and 59 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any MINI dealer.

Recalls
4
Complaints
59
Crashes / fires
1 / 5
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2010 MINI Cooper S vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2010 MINI Cooper S recalls

Recall 23V-337: Electrical System

Reported May 11, 2023 · 97,933 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2014 MINI Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Clubman John Cooper Works, and 2007-2013 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. The electronic control module in the driver's side footwell area may short-circuit, due to corrosion from water and road salt.

Risk: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the sunroof drains, interior footwell area, and FRM and, depending upon the results of the inspection, certain components will be replaced. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

Recall 18V-248: Engine and Engine Cooling

Reported Apr 18, 2018 · 47,806 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

Problem: 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.

Risk: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: 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.

Recall 12V-008: Engine and Engine Cooling

Reported Jan 11, 2012 · 90,368 vehicles affected · BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC

Problem: 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.

Risk: The circuit board may smolder which could result in a vehicle fire.

Fix: 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.

Recall 09V-474: Equipment

Reported Dec 15, 2009 · 205 vehicles affected · BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC

Problem: Bmw is recalling certain model year 2010 mini cooper and cooper s vehicles for failing comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the affected vehicles were equipped with 17 inch wheels, but their label states that they were equipped with 16 inch wheels. Also the tire pressure stated on the label for the cooper s is incorrect.

Risk: Erroneous tire information could lead to improper tire fitment and inflation which could affect the durability of the tire and the stability of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The recall began on march 4, 2010. Owners may contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.

2010 MINI Cooper S problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Engine37
Air Bags9
Engine and Engine Cooling6
Fuel/Propulsion System6
Power Train5
Electrical System4
Unknown or Other3
Suspension2
Parking Brake1
Wheels1
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)1
Seats1

Most reported parts

  • Air Bags › Side/Window — 1
  • Air Bags › Frontal — 1
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 1
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe — 1
  • Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 64,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2010 MINI Cooper S complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Engine · reported Mar 20, 2025
The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Air Bags · at 86,000 miles · reported Dec 7, 2020
The passenger airbag sensor/passenger seatbelt sensor issue that has been reported and fixed in lots of other mini cooper model years is seemingly an issue with 2010 models too and needs to be corrected via recall. The sensor being faulty is a serious safety concern, and runs close to $1200 to repair. My sensor was intermittently off and on and is now full time warning about the airbag being off. This happens no matter the status of the vehicle - as soon as the motor is running the warning lights are lit up.
Engine · at 100,000 miles · reported Nov 4, 2020
The car completely quits running while you are driving it. Check engine light comes on but car has already died. Have to coast to a stop with no power steering since the engine has died. Car will not always restart. Sometimes it will crank but not turn over. Sometimes it will restart. Today it died while I was going 65mph on the interstate a d I had to dodge across 3 lanes of traffic to get to the shoulder. Have had this exact issue before. 3 yrs ago I replaced the high pressure fuel pump for this exact same problem. This was a $1500 repair cost. Mini cooper said that 2010 mini coopers were…
Electrical System · at 64,000 miles · reported Feb 19, 2020
Mi vehculo mini cooper s 2010, estando estacionado en el garage por ms de 12 horas y sin prender el motor en ningn momento comenz a incendiarse sin ningn motivo. Por fortuna haba personas que alertaran de lo ocurrido y pude apagar el fuego en el vehculo, aunque ya haba consumido partes elctrica, de motor y cofre, etc. Cabe mencionar que esto sucedi en la ciudad de mxico, no en eua, pero ustedes tienen mejor informacin al respecto. Saludos.
Air Bags · at 119,000 miles · reported Dec 9, 2019
Airbag and seatbelt warning lights come on for passenger seat and will not turn off. It indicates that the passenger airbag will not activate in the event of an accident with an occupant in the passenger seat. Front passenger will not have airbag protection in the event of a crash.

Other MINI Cooper S years

Compare all MINI Cooper S years · All MINI models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2010 MINI Cooper S have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2010 MINI Cooper S: 23V-337 (electrical system), 18V-248 (engine and engine cooling), 12V-008 (engine and engine cooling), 09V-474 (equipment). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2010 MINI Cooper S?

Owners report engine problems most often (37 reports), followed by air bags (9). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 64,000 miles.

Are MINI recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized MINI dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.