2011 Mini COOPER S problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
31 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
65,008 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 31 complaints (51.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 32.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 9.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.2% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 3.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Engine | 16 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification | 1 |
| Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
Electrical System: 16; Engine: 16; Air Bags: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification: 1; Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 4 |
2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 4; 2017: 5; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2021: 2; 2023: 4; 2024: 3; 2025: 4
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10954576 · 2017-02-14 (February 14, 2017)
KNOWN ISSUE WITH THERMOSTAT HOUSING & SENSOR - MINI HAS ACKNOWLEDGED A KNOWN DESIGN ISSUE THAT CAUSES COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE THERMOSTAT SENSOR. FULL REPLACEMENT IS RECOMMENDED WITH UPDATED DESIGN AT CUSTOMER'S COST. MANUFACTURER SHOULD COVER THIS COST SINCE THIS IS AN ENGINEERING DESIGN DEFECT AND MAY LEAD TO POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL FIRES. AFFECTED PARTS ARE THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING, THERMOSTAT, THERMOSTAT SENSOR, UPPER RADIATOR HOSE & CROSSOVER TUBE. PLEASE REFER TO MANUFACTURER'S COMMUNICATION POST: 10049421, 10046779, & 10045301.
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10954576 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11044039 · 2017-11-07 (November 7, 2017)
MY MINI COOPER WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE FOR OVER TWO WEEKS. ON AUGUST 10, 2017 I MOVED IT OUT OF THE GARAGE TO GET TO SOME THINGS IN MY GARAGE. WHEN I BACKED IT BACK IN, I HEARD A POP AND WITHIN MINUTES I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN THE HOOD THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. WE HAD TO CALL 911 AND THEY TOLD US WE COULD NOT LEAVE THE CAR IN THE GARAGE BECAUSE OF THE FIRE INCIDENT. WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL SO THAT WE COULD MOVE IT OUT OF THE GARAGE WITHOUT STARTING THE CAR. ONCE PARKED ON THE D…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11044039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10559534 · 2014-01-12 (January 12, 2014)
PREMATURE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE MAY LEAD TO LOSS IN POWER, FURTHERING THE POTENTIAL FOR A WRECK. ENGINE ENTERS "LIMP HOME" MODE, WHICH REDUCES POWER CONSIDERABLY AND MAKES ACCELERATION MUCH SLOWER THAN NORMAL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, SEVERAL OBD-II DIAGNOSTICS CODES APPEAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10559534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11043650 · 2017-11-06 (November 6, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (SOUTH BAY MINI IN TORRANCE, CA, [phone removed]), BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED A CODE FROM THE SPARK PLUG. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVER WAS PUNCTURED AND LEAKED OIL; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW THE FAILURE OCCURRED. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11043650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11634691 · 2025-01-07 (January 7, 2025)
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 ci…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11634691 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11535499 · 2023-07-31 (July 31, 2023)
The contact owns a 2011 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact was informed that the left turn signal light was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys, where the left turn signal light bulb was replaced twice; however, the failure recurred 30 minutes later each time. Additionally, the contact stated that the brake lights were inoperable. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) which the contact related to the failure; however, the…
Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11535499 at NHTSA ↗