YearToAvoid

2011 MINI Cooper S Convertible Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

14/100

#7 most-complained of 8 Cooper S Convertible years

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

The 2011 MINI Cooper S Convertible has 4 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 14 out of 100 — #7 highest of 8 Cooper S Convertible model years. The most reported problem area is electrical system (3 complaints, 75% of the total). Complaints report 1 fire.

Complaints
4
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
29
26 city / 34 hwy

Top 2011 MINI Cooper S Convertible problems

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

  1. Electrical System3 (75%)
  2. Airbags1 (25%)
  3. Brakes1 (25%)
  4. Fuel System1 (25%)
2011 MINI Cooper S Convertible complaints: complaints filed per month3Mar 2012Oct 2016Apr 2019Jun 2023
6 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2012 to Jun 2023; peak Oct 2016 (3).

2011 MINI Cooper S Convertible recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns 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.

  2. NHTSA 12V008000Jan 11, 2012Engine90,368 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

2011 MINI Cooper S Convertible fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26 MPG
Highway
34 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.

2011 compared with other Cooper S Convertible years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020052006200720082009201020112012
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2009Good439128
2010Caution7110128
2011No verdict144229
2012No verdict03129

All MINI Cooper S Convertible years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 MINI Cooper S Convertible a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 MINI Cooper S Convertible ranks #7 of 8 among Cooper S Convertible model years (Complaint Index 14/100). It has 4 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 MINI Cooper S Convertible?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (3 complaints), airbags (1 complaints), and brakes (1 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 38,000 miles.
Does the 2011 MINI Cooper S Convertible have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2011 MINI Cooper S Convertible, most recently reported 2018, covering engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 MINI Cooper S Convertible?
EPA rates the 2011 MINI Cooper S Convertible at 29 MPG combined (26 city / 34 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,750. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.