Car Defect Radar
Get the report
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated October 26, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.
Confirm 3 recalls before you buy.

Ask the seller for proof the repair was completed, or run the free VIN check. Recall repairs are done at no cost by a dealer.

Recalls

3 total · 3 to confirm

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

Electrical system recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 23V337000 · May 2023

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.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Engine recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 18V248000 · Apr 2018

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.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Engine recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 12V008000 · Jan 2012

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.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Owner complaints by system

31 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
17

Most reports here involve fluid leaks. Of these, 1 mention an injury.

fluid leaks 6fire 4sudden stalling 3
A recent report: Car stalls while driving and will not start again. No codes thrown. Found relay K96 on Junction Box Electronics module to have cracked through-hole solder joints resulting in bad continuity. Relay…
Read full complaint

Car stalls while driving and will not start again. No codes thrown. Found relay K96 on Junction Box Electronics module to have cracked through-hole solder joints resulting in bad continuity. Relay K96 supplies power to the low pressure fuel pump in the tank, thus with bad continuity, the pump gets no power. Relay K96 P/N is NEC Philippines P/N EP2F-B3G1ST. This issue has happened to many other people with the same car that I know. I suspect heat cycles over time stressed and fatigued the solder joints, causing the joint to crack. Overall the circuit board layout needs a heat sink for the relay to alleviate the heat produced from operation. I am IPC certified and work with aircraft engine electronics regularly and have seen similar issues.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11634691 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
10

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 1 mention an injury.

software faults 2fire 1
A recent report: Failure of the Footwell Module failed due to corrosion by water intrusion as diagnosed by Mini Dealership. Windows, Turn signals and lights were inoperable as a result of failure. This matched the…
Read full complaint

Failure of the Footwell Module failed due to corrosion by water intrusion as diagnosed by Mini Dealership. Windows, Turn signals and lights were inoperable as a result of failure. This matched the situation outlined in your recall notice Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-337. Car matched the model/years affected/listed in recall. However, Mini Dealer informed me my VIN was not listed in their recall. Subsequent research indicated that NHTSA/Mini limited the recall to cars purchased cars sold or registered in specific states (not part of the Safety recall report). Ref NEF-107DM dated 5/19/2023. I drove car in those states but did not buy or register the vehicle in them. I encourage you to have Mini extend it's recall/warranty to all vehicles which exhibit the safety failure.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11675944 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Minor
3

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying.

airbags not deploying 2software faults 1
A recent report: All air bags lights are on. Indicates airbags are deactivated.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11514570 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
1

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 1
A recent report: The car was on BMW-MINI recall list and after I made a complaint of non-compliance with the recall, BMW removed my particular vehicle from the recall list without remedying the problem.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11627182 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 31 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2012 and 2025, roughly 2 a year, which is fewer than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.

How does it compare with other years? The 2011 has 31 complaints on file, fewer than the 2010 (59) and more than the 2012 (23). Of the 6 model years of the MINI Cooper S we cover, the 2010 has the most (59). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.