YearToAvoid

2012 MINI Cooper S Convertible Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

0/100

#8 most-complained of 8 Cooper S Convertible years

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

The 2012 MINI Cooper S Convertible has 3 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 0 out of 100 — #8 highest of 8 Cooper S Convertible model years. The most reported problem area is electrical system (2 complaints, 67% of the total).

Complaints
3
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 Convertible problems

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

  1. Electrical System2 (67%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain1 (33%)
2012 MINI Cooper S Convertible complaints: complaints filed per month1Nov 2020Jul 2024Sep 2025
3 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2020 to Sep 2025; peak Nov 2020 (1).

2012 MINI Cooper S Convertible 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 Convertible 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 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
2010Caution7110128
2011No verdict144229
2012No verdict03129

All MINI Cooper S Convertible years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 MINI Cooper S Convertible a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 MINI Cooper S Convertible ranks #8 of 8 among Cooper S Convertible model years (Complaint Index 0/100). It has 3 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 MINI Cooper S Convertible?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (2 complaints) and transmission & powertrain (1 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 118,000 miles.
Does the 2012 MINI Cooper S Convertible have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2012 MINI Cooper S Convertible, most recently reported 2018, covering engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 MINI Cooper S Convertible?
EPA rates the 2012 MINI Cooper S Convertible at 29 MPG combined (25.5 city / 33.5 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.