YearToAvoid

2012 MINI Cooper S Clubman Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

33/100

#5 most-complained of 7 Cooper S Clubman years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2012 MINI Cooper S Clubman has a complaint index of 33, ranking 5th out of 7 model years, well below the 2009 (100) and 2011 (83) Avoid years. NHTSA lists 2 complaints and 1 recall tied to the engine.

Complaints
2
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
29
25.5 city / 33.5 hwy

Top 2012 MINI Cooper S Clubman problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine2 (100%)

What owners report

  • Check engine light comes on due to a thermostat housing or thermostat sensor stuck in the open position.
  • Engine loses power and stalls after making hissing and popping sounds while coming to a stop.
  • Failure investigation found a blown head gasket alongside the engine failure.
  • A fractured air flow sensor turned up during the same engine failure diagnosis.
2012 MINI Cooper S Clubman complaints: complaints filed per month1Sep 2018Aug 2019
2 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2018 to Aug 2019; peak Sep 2018 (1).

2012 MINI Cooper S Clubman recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V248000Apr 18, 2018Engine47,806 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine

    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.

    Remedy: 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 Clubman fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25.5 MPG
Highway
33.5 MPG
Combined
29 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,750
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other Cooper S Clubman years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002008200920102011201220202021
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Caution50132—
2011Avoid8312329
2012No verdict332129
2020No verdict171127.5
2021No verdict00126

All MINI Cooper S Clubman years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 MINI Cooper S Clubman reliable?
NHTSA lists only 2 complaints for the 2012 Cooper S Clubman, giving it a complaint index of 33, which ranks 5th out of 7 model years. Both complaints involve the engine.
What problems does the 2012 MINI Cooper S Clubman have?
Owners reported engine issues, including a thermostat sensor stuck open triggering the check engine light and a case of engine failure with a blown head gasket and fractured air flow sensor. Median mileage at failure was 58,502.
Does the 2012 MINI Cooper S Clubman have a recall?
Yes, NHTSA recall 18V248000 covers the engine, involving replacement of the electric auxiliary water pump. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
What year MINI Cooper S Clubman should I avoid?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2009 model year has the highest complaint index at 100 and carries an Avoid verdict, followed by 2011 at 83, also Avoid. The 2012 model year is not rated Avoid.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 MINI Cooper S Clubman?
EPA rates the 2012 Cooper S Clubman at 29 mpg combined (25.5 city / 33.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,750.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.