Problems · NHTSA complaints

2010 MINI Cooper S problems

Owners filed 59 complaints about the 2010 MINI Cooper S with NHTSA between Oct 2010 and Mar 2025. The most-cited component is engine (37).

Complaints
59
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine37
  2. Air bags6
  3. Fuel/propulsion system6
  4. Engine and engine cooling6
  5. Power train5
  6. Electrical system4
  7. Suspension2
  8. Seat belts1
  9. Steering1
  10. Seats1
  11. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  12. Wheels1
  13. Parking brake1
  14. Other / unknown3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20103
20113
20126
20133
20146
20158
201611
20176
20183
20196
20203
20210
20220
20230
20240
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

37 reports2 fires
“The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 20, 2025EngineODI 11649587

Air bags

6 reports
“THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR/PASSENGER SEATBELT SENSOR ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED AND FIXED IN LOTS OF OTHER MINI COOPER MODEL YEARS IS SEEMINGLY AN ISSUE WITH 2010 MODELS TOO AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED VIA RECALL. THE SENSOR BEING FAULTY IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, AND RUNS CLOSE TO $1200 TO REPAIR. MY SENSOR WAS INTERMITTENTLY OFF AND ON AND IS NOW FULL TIME WARNING ABOUT THE AIRBAG BEING OFF. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER THE STATUS OF THE VEHICLE - AS SOON AS THE MOTOR IS RUNNING THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE LIT UP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 7, 2020Air bagsODI 11378369

Fuel/propulsion system

6 reports
“THE CAR COMPLETELY QUITS RUNNING WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING IT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON BUT CAR HAS ALREADY DIED. HAVE TO COAST TO A STOP WITH NO POWER STEERING SINCE THE ENGINE HAS DIED. CAR WILL NOT ALWAYS RESTART. SOMETIMES IT WILL CRANK BUT NOT TURN OVER. SOMETIMES IT WILL RESTART. TODAY IT DIED WHILE I WAS GOING 65MPH ON THE INTERSTATE A D I HAD TO DODGE ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. HAVE HAD THIS EXACT ISSUE BEFORE. 3 YRS AGO I REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS WAS A $1500 REPAIR COST. MINI COOPER SAID THAT 2010 MINI COOPERS WERE NOT COVERED. ONLY MINIS UP TO TNE YEAR 2009 WERE COVERED IN THAT SAFETY RECALL SO I PAID OUT OF POCKET. HOWEVER, MINI COOPER USED THE SAME PART THAT HAD BEEN RECALLED ON MY 2010. IT FAILED IN 2017 AND THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS NOW FAILED AGAIN. MINI COOPER CALLED IT A "KNOWN" ISSUE, BUT WOULD NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT COST IN 2017. REPAIR ORDER NUMBER WITH MINI COOPER DEALER: 262724 AND PART NUMBER 13-51-7-588-879”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2020Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11373045

Engine and engine cooling

6 reports3 fires2 related recalls
“2010 MINI COOPER S. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUES WITH TIMING CHAIN *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ONE WEEK AFTER BEING SERVICED. THE FIRST NOTICEABLE PROBLEM STARTED WITH A LEAK. IT WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING A SEAL. IT WAS THEN DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE WATER PUMP, WHICH WAS THEN REPLACED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED, THE COMPUTER NOTED MISFIRE FAULTS AND IT WAS AT THAT POINT, THE TIMING CHAIN WAS REPLACED AND ALL ITS RELATED PARTS. THE TECHNICIAN NOTED CARBON BUILD-UP. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAN STAYS ON MUCH LONGER THAN NORMAL. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 19, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10467321

Power train

5 reports
“TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AND STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN NOW THE DEATH RATTLE AND BMW MINI COOPER KNOWS 2010 WERE AFFECTED THERE IS LOTS OF DATA ONLINE FOR 2010 MINI COOPER S TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER FAILING AT 20K TO 50K MILE RANGE. WE HAVE 42K MILES AND IN RANGE OF CLASS ACTION THAT WAS FILED. THEY WON'T FIX ISSUE AND WANT 2500. I'M ONE OF MANY WITH 2010 ISSUES. THEY SAY IT'S UPGRADED BUT FAILED AT 40K SAME AS OTHERS. [XXX] OR [XXX].”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2017Power trainODI 11021820

Electrical system

4 reports2 fires1 related recall
“MI VEHCULO MINI COOPER S 2010, ESTANDO ESTACIONADO EN EL GARAGE POR MS DE 12 HORAS Y SIN PRENDER EL MOTOR EN NINGN MOMENTO COMENZ A INCENDIARSE SIN NINGN MOTIVO. POR FORTUNA HABA PERSONAS QUE ALERTARAN DE LO OCURRIDO Y PUDE APAGAR EL FUEGO EN EL VEHCULO, AUNQUE YA HABA CONSUMIDO PARTES ELCTRICA, DE MOTOR Y COFRE, ETC. CABE MENCIONAR QUE ESTO SUCEDI EN LA CIUDAD DE MXICO, NO EN EUA, PERO USTEDES TIENEN MEJOR INFORMACIN AL RESPECTO. SALUDOS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 19, 2020Electrical system, EngineFire reportedODI 11310103
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.