2012 MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 problems

“I purchased a 2012 MINI Cooper Countryman from LA Motorsports (703 1st Ave N, Windom, MN 56101) in November 2024. Prior to purchase, I specifically asked whether any open recalls remained, and the dealership assured me all had been completed. After the vehicle failed within 60 days, a certified MINI technician inspected it and confirmed the presence of stop leak and catastrophic internal engine damage. The technician also confirmed that the auxiliary water pump—subject to NHTSA Recall 18V-248, a federal Stop-Sale recall—was still actively leaking at the time of inspection, and that the recall was still open at the time of sale. This indicates the dealer sold the vehicle without completing the required recall, which violates federal law (49 U.S.C. § 30120(i); 49 C.F.R. § 573.11). I am reporting this as a violation of federal safety standards and consumer protection. I have evidence available, including a video inspection and technician report, and I am willing to provide those upon request.”

“I had been having trouble with my Footwell Module since the fall, but for months, I didn’t know what was going on!! The first time, October 2024, I went to Advance Auto Parts to get help bc it was raining and my windows were down, and I needed headlights, not to mention, the signals weren’t working. The second time it happened in January 2025, I didn’t go to Advance, I just disconnected the battery myself for a few hours. The third time it happened, first week of April 2025, I got home that night, cut my engine off, and noticed a light in my dash I hadn’t seen before. It was a fog lamp bulb, but the car was off, and it wasn’t like normal, it was an error light. When I walked around to the front if the car, I saw my fog lamps were still on, which was weird. All lights were off on toe column and dash. So, I restarted my Mini and cut her back off again, then the fog lamps went off. I had no park lights, or headlights then either. I didn’t check my windows. If they did go down they may not go back up! I didn’t check my turn signals either. I was just happy the fogs went off… It was after much research, that I ‘figured’ out what was going on with my Mini concerning…”

“OUR VEHICLE HAS THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND I AM AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, THERE ARE MANY MINI OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS DEEPER THAN AN ISOLATED ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUES THAT WAS CONVERTED INTO A RECALL FOR SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE. MINI SHOULD CONSIDERED DOING AN INVESTIGATION AND EXTENDING THE RECALL TO OTHER YEAR MODELS INCLUDING MY 2012.”

“I LOVE MY MINI COOPER S. BUT THERE IS A ISSUE. TODAY I STARTED UP THE CAR AND IT STARTS SMOKING. TWICE THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TWO WEEKS. WHEN I BOUGHT IT 2 YEARS AGO I NOTICED ON THE INSIDE OF MY HOOD OF THE CAR IT'S A BLACK BURNT MARK. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED. LAST WEEK I TOOK IT TO A OIL SHOP AND THEY SAID MY TURBO IS BURNING MY CAR AND WOULD CATCH FIRE SOON. I'M IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A NEW TURBO BUT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM CAUSE NOW IT'S SMOKING ONLY WHEN IN IDLE OR STARTED UP.BUT THE HOOD IS SUPER HOT AFTER A SHORT DRIVE. I HOPE YOUR CREW CAN LOOK INTO THIS PART AND SAVE SOMEONE THE TERROR OF A CAR ON FIRE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.”

“MY AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON DASH AND CENTER CONSOLE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND MULTIPLE SEAT MAT SENSOR FAULT CODES STORED. THE SEAT MAT IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY BY FAILING TO RECOGNIZE IF THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT AND/OR THEIR WEIGHT. AS A RESULT, THE AIRBAG MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY COMPLETELY OR INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY ON A PASSENGER WEIGHING LESS THAN 45 POUNDS. BOTH RESULTING IN ADDITIONAL INJURIES AND/OR DEATH. MY MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME MINI HAS HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES/RECALLS WITH THESE SEAT MAT SENSORS, AS DOCUMENTED IN MINI SERVICE BULLETIN DATE JANUARY 2019 (I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY). THE ISSUE AFFECTS NUMEROUS MINI MODELS MADE THROUGHOUT VARIOUS YEARS, INCLUDING 2012 WHICH IS THE SAME YEAR AS MY MINI. THESE SEAT MAT SENSORS DEFINITELY NEED TO BE REEVALUATED AND POTENTIALLY EXPAND THE RECALL/SAFETY ALERT TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL MODELS.”

“DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR FAILS TO OPEN WHEN STATIONARY. USING REMOTE AND/OR THE INTERIOR UNLOCK TOGGLE ALLOWS THE UNLOCK INDICATOR ON THE UPPER DOOR SILL TO POP UP; HOWEVER, NEITHER THE INTERIOR NOR EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES, WHEN PULLED, OPEN THE DOOR. DRIVER MUST EXIT VIA WINDOW OR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. ALL OTHER DOORS OPERATE IN A NORMAL FASHION. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY FROM 2 MAY 2020 UNTIL 26 MAY 2020. CURRENTLY AS OF 26 MAY 2020, THE DOOR UNLOCK INDICATOR POPS UP OR DOWN WITH REMOTE OR INTERIOR TOGGLE, BUT FAILS TO OPEN WHEN INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IS PULLED. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND CAN BE IDENTIFIED ON VARIOUS WEBSITES. THOUGH THE YEAR AND MODEL MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN OURS, MANY PARTS ARE SHARED ACROSS MODELS AND YEARS. HTTP://FORUMS.PELICANPARTS.COM/MINI-DISCUSSION-FORUM/939545-DRIVER-DOOR-WONT-OPEN.HTML HTTPS://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/STOCK-PROBLEMS-ISSUES/187003-DRIVER-S-DOOR-WON-T-OPEN-FROM-INSIDE-OR-OUTSIDE.HTML HTTPS://WWW.MINI2.COM/THREADS/DRIVER-DOOR-STUCK-CLOSED-HELP.183918/ HTTP://WWW.PSMINI.ORG/FORUM/DRIVERS-DOOR-WONT-OPEN-FROM-INSIDE_TOPIC6265.HTML…”