YearToAvoid

2012 MINI Cooper S Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

56/100

#9 most-complained of 19 Cooper S years

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

The 2012 MINI Cooper S has 23 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 56 out of 100 — #9 highest of 19 Cooper S model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is electrical system (13 complaints, 57% of the total). Complaints report 2 fires.

Complaints
23
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 2
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
28
25 city / 33 hwy

Top 2012 MINI Cooper S problems

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

  1. Electrical System13 (57%)
  2. Engine5 (22%)
  3. Fuel System4 (17%)
  4. Structure & Body3 (13%)
  5. Airbags1 (4%)
  6. Seat Belts1 (4%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (4%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain1 (4%)
2012 MINI Cooper S complaints: complaints filed per month3Jul 2014Jul 2016Oct 2018Jan 2020Nov 2020Apr 2024Jun 2025
29 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2014 to Jun 2025; peak Jan 2020 (3).

2012 MINI Cooper S recalls

2 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.

2012 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.

2012 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
2010Caution7259428
2011Caution6731328
2012Caution5623228
2013Caution6124128
2014Good3313428

All MINI Cooper S years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 MINI Cooper S a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 MINI Cooper S ranks #9 of 19 among Cooper S model years (Complaint Index 56/100, verdict: Caution). It has 23 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 2012 MINI Cooper S?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (13 complaints), engine (5 complaints), and fuel system (4 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 86,000 miles.
Does the 2012 MINI Cooper S have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 MINI Cooper S, most recently reported 2023, covering electrical system and engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 MINI Cooper S?
EPA rates the 2012 MINI Cooper S at 28 MPG combined (25 city / 33 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,850. 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.