2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

Check any vehicle history by VIN - Free vehicle history report

N/A

Safety Rating

32

Owner Complaints

5 Fires

1

Recall

ACTIVE RECALL

3

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN

The 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN has received a total of 32 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE. 3 technical service bulletins have been issued by BMW of North America, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (12 complaints), Air Bags (3 complaints), and Electrical System (3 complaints).

Recalls for the 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN

NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN, potentially affecting up to 95,612 vehicles.

Recall 18V248000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

| 47,806 vehicles affected

Defect: 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...

Consequence: 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...

View full details →

Recall 18V248000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

| 47,806 vehicles affected

Defect: 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...

Consequence: 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...

View full details →

Owner Complaints for the 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN

32 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Most Recent Complaints

#11710137 | AIR BAGS | | N/A miles
Airbag light and seatbelt light are on continuously no matter if someone is in the seat or not.
#11673034 | ENGINE | | N/A miles
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.
#11668418 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | | N/A miles
We have had issues with every single door lock actuator assembly in this vehicle the passenger door will not latch shut at all! I'm sure how you could see this as a safety concern!
#11660554 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | N/A miles Fire
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 all of the intermittent craziness, but it never occurred to me that there was a fire hazard. I actually looked into purchasing an FRM back in February, and had put it into my shopping cart, but it cost more than I could gather together at one time. I am pretty sure that is why my Mini caught fire & burned to a total loss on April 18, 2025. There is no other explanation. She ran too good. She was my dream car. She would boot, scoot & boogie! PLZ SOMEONE IN BMW FIX THIS PROBLEM!!!!! I am a sucker for this yr, make & model & just purchased the same one. Plz make a RECALL & Save Us, who are so PROUD to be Mini Owners & our sweet LiL Mini’s that we ADORE, are PROUD of & LOVE! Mini Rule #1 Always park next to another Mini Mini Rule #5 Be compassionate to SUV’s
#11607530 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | | 125,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S Countryman. The contact stated that on several occasions while in reverse(R) and the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to stop immediately. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic twice and a dealer once however, the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

View all Engine complaints →

Safety Rating for the 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN

NHTSA has not yet tested the 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN

BMW of North America, LLC has issued 3 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

M210114 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

Dual Mass Flywheel: Diagnosis and Inspection. INFORMATION The following three criteria must to be checked, evaluated and the resulting findings documented on the repair order prior to replacing a dual-mass flywheel as defective: 1. Total rotational angle at no load condition (with applied torque less then 20 Nm) 2. Secondary...

M340113 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Erroneous "Service due" Message Although Brake Lining Thickness is Above Minimum Specification. The yellow "Service Due" warning message lights up in the instrument cluster, even though the brake pad thickness is more than 4.2mm (above the thickness at which the pad sensor intervenes). The calculated remaining service life for the...

M120211 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Hesitation or Jerking Is Felt When Accelerating Between 3000 - 4000 rpm. A hesitation or jerking is intermittently felt when accelerating under higher loads between 3000 - 4000 rpm. No DME faults are stored. DME software error

NHTSA Investigations for the 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN

View all MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN model years →

Other MINI Models

View all MINI models →

Check any vehicle history by VIN - Free vehicle history report