2012 MINI Cooper S recalls and problems

The 2012 MINI Cooper S has 2 safety recalls and 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any MINI dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes / fires

0 / 2

Injuries / deaths

0 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2012 MINI Cooper S vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2012 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.

2012 MINI Cooper S problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Electrical System	13
Engine	4
Fuel/Propulsion System	3
Structure	2
Seats	1
Wheels	1
Power Train	1
Exterior Lighting	1
Vehicle Speed Control	1
Air Bags	1
Seat Belts	1
Fuel System, Gasoline	1

Most reported parts

Wheels › Rim — 1
Structure › Body › Door — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 86,000 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 2012 MINI Cooper S complaints

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

Fuel System, Gasoline · at 87,000 miles · reported Jun 5, 2025

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…

Electrical System · reported Dec 30, 2024

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.

Electrical System · reported Aug 5, 2024

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.

Electrical System · at 116,000 miles · reported Apr 18, 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…

Electrical System · at 121,000 miles · reported Apr 15, 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 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…

Other MINI Cooper S years

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Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 MINI Cooper S have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2012 MINI Cooper S: 23V-337 (electrical system), 18V-248 (engine and engine cooling). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2012 MINI Cooper S?

Owners report electrical system problems most often (13 reports), followed by engine (4). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 86,000 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.