YearToAvoid

2010 MINI Cooper S Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2010 MINI Cooper S has 59 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 72, ranking 6th worst of 19 model years with data. It carries a Caution verdict, with Engine problems making up 73% of complaints, including 5 fire reports.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
72/100
#6 of 19 Cooper S years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
59
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
4
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
1
reported in complaints
Fires
5
Injuries
3
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2019
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
28
25 city / 33 hwy
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0

Top 2010 MINI Cooper S problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine43 (73%)
  2. Airbags6 (10%)
  3. Fuel System6 (10%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain5 (8%)
  5. Electrical System4 (7%)
  6. Other3 (5%)
  7. Brakes2 (3%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (3%)
  9. Seat Belts1 (2%)
  10. Steering1 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report engine fires starting under the hood shortly after parking or driving, sometimes even after the vehicle had been sitting for hours.
  • Some owners had the engine fire risk recall performed and reported smoke coming from under the hood days later.
  • Drivers describe overheating on the highway accompanied by a warning light, smoke, and a burning oil smell, in one case leading to engine replacement.
  • One owner reported a cold-start issue with rough running and loud noise, pointing to the timing chain around 45,000 miles.
  • A parking brake failed to hold on a slight incline, causing the car to roll into another vehicle.
  • An owner reported repeated flat tires on the factory-fitted run-flat tires with no spare available.
2010 MINI Cooper S complaints: complaints filed per month3Oct 2010Mar 2012Jan 2014Oct 2015May 2016Mar 2017Jun 2018Feb 2020
59 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2010 to Mar 2025; peak Jul 2012 (3).

2010 MINI Cooper S recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V337000May 11, 2023Electrical System97,933 vehicles

    Electrical system

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

See all 4 recalls for the 2010 MINI Cooper S →

2010 MINI Cooper S fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25 MPG
Highway
33 MPG
Combined
28 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,850
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.

2010 compared with other Cooper S years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’19’20’21’22’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2008Avoid89168428
2009Avoid83119327.5
2010Caution7259428
2011Caution6731328
2012Caution5623228

All MINI Cooper S years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 MINI Cooper S reliable?
NHTSA lists 59 complaints for the 2010 Cooper S, giving it a complaint index of 72 and a Caution verdict relative to other Cooper S model years. Engine problems, including 5 reported fires, account for 73% of complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the 2010 MINI Cooper S?
Engine issues are the top problem area, with 43 complaints (73% of the total) and a median failure mileage of 64,000 miles, including several fire incidents.
Does the 2010 MINI Cooper S have engine recalls?
Yes. NHTSA recall 12V008000 covers a water pump replacement for engine cooling on 2007-2011 Cooper S models, and recall 18V248000 addresses an auxiliary water pump on related BMW/MINI vehicles.
How does the 2010 Cooper S compare to other model years?
Its complaint index of 72 ranks 6th worst among 19 model years with data. Earlier years like 2007 (index 100) and 2005 (index 94) rank worse, while later years such as 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019 earn Good or Best verdicts.

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.