Problems · NHTSA complaints

2011 MINI Cooper S problems

Owners filed 40 complaints about the 2011 MINI Cooper S with NHTSA between Apr 2011 and Jul 2025. The most-cited component is electrical system (20).

Complaints
40
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system20
  2. Engine17
  3. Air bags4
  4. Fuel/propulsion system3
  5. Engine and engine cooling2
  6. Exterior lighting1
  7. Structure1
  8. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  9. Fuel system, gasoline1
  10. Vehicle speed control1
  11. Power train1
  12. Interior lighting1
  13. 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 Oct 28, 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
20113
20122
20131
20142
20151
20165
20175
20185
20192
20200
20212
20220
20235
20243
20254

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

Electrical system

20 reports3 fires1 related recall
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2025Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Unknown or otherODI 11675944

Engine

17 reports5 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 7, 2025Electrical system, EngineODI 11634691

Air bags

4 reports
“All air bags lights are on. Indicates airbags are deactivated.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 30, 2023Air bagsODI 11514570

Fuel/propulsion system

3 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER S US. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PRESSURE PUMP FAILED, STATING THAT THE PRESSURE WAS AT ZERO PSI. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,774.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2018Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11083387

Engine and engine cooling

2 reports1 fire2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2011 Mini Cooper S. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V248000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 26, 2021Engine and engine coolingODI 11426543

Exterior lighting

1 report
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

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