2011 Mini COOPER S CLUBMAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
54,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 12 complaints (58.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 8.3% |
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 | 7 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Structure:Body:Hood:Hinge And Attachments | 1 |
Electrical System: 7; Engine: 4; Air Bags: 3; Seats: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Steering: 1; Structure:Body:Hood:Hinge And Attachments: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 5 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 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2021: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10443236 · 2012-01-09 (January 9, 2012)
I PARKED MY MINI CLUBMAN S AND WENT INSIDE A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT FOR ONLY 10 MINUTES, WHEN I RETURNED TO MY MINI, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I RELEASED THE HOOD LATCH AND TRIED WITHOUT SUCCESS TO OPEN THE HOOD. A NEARBY WITNESS CALLED OUT TO ME AS HE RAN TO ASSIST WITH AN EXTINGUISHER REALIZING MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 AND STOOD HELPLESSLY WATCHING AS MY 4-MONTH OLD CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN MINUTES. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS WARNINGS DISPLAYED...IF MY DOG, WHO TRAVELS WITH ME QUITE OFTEN H…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10443236 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10664381 · 2014-12-15 (December 15, 2014)
MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR, AFTER DRIVING IT FOR THREE MILES IN THE RAIN. THE ENGINE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10664381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10895739 · 2016-08-14 (August 14, 2016)
I'VE HAD MY 2011 MINI CLUBMAN S FOR THREE YEARS NOW AND HAD SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ALREADY. I'VE REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, DSC LIGHTS, AND OTHER THINGS. THE INDICATOR LIGHTS SEEM TO COME ON ALL THE TIME AND THE MECHANICS DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE IDEA ON WHAT'S CAUSING THESE PROBLEMS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10895739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10986254 · 2017-05-17 (May 17, 2017)
MY MINI COOPER WAS REAR ENDED, AND I WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE VIOLENTLY. NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, MY SEAT FULLY RECLINED DURING THE IMPACT, AND MY HEAD REST BROKE OUT OF ITS BASE. DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE IMPACT, AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10986254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11002796 · 2017-07-03 (July 3, 2017)
4 FAULTY IGNITION COILS WITHIN 3 MONTHS: CYLINDERS #1 & # 2 HAD TO BE REPLACED ON 4/7/17 CYLINDERS #3 & #4 ON 7/4/17. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I WAS PULLING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND RESULTED IN COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE CHANGING LANES, AGAIN COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND NEARLY CAUSED ME TO BE HIT BY A SEMI-TRUCK. I NARROWLY ESCAPED AN ACCIDENT IN FIRST INCIDENT AS WELL. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CHILDREN IN THIS CAR ANY LONGER. EACH TIME THE PARTS AND LABOR COST MORE THAN $30…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,128 miles reported. Look up ODI 11002796 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11061437 · 2018-01-09 (January 9, 2018)
ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 6 MONTHS. ON THE WAY TO THE MINI OF SAN DIEGO DEALERSHIP TO GET AN OIL CHANGE, THE CAR SHUTS DOWN AS I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I WAS STILL IN MOTION AND ON THE STREET. I WAS COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY. I TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THERE WERE OVERHEATING LIGHTS AND SMOKE A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE SO DISCONTINUED DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL MY APPOINTMENT WITH MINI OF SAN DIEGO. THE DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT, THERE WAS NO INDICATION LIGHT OF OVERHEATING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ONLY 15 MINS AWAY FROM MY…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11061437 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11104507 · 2018-06-28 (June 28, 2018)
I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN GOING ON A 35MPH STREET AND MY CAR DID NOT TURN RIGHT WHEN I TRIED TO GO INTO A STREET AND IT WENT STRAIGHT INTO A TREE AND MY CAR WAS ALMOST OR MAY BE TOTALED BECAUSE OF THIS. I BELIEVE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS FAULTY. I COULD HAVE HIT A CONCRETE WALL BUT THE TREE I RAN INTO SAVED MY LIFE. I AM NOT SURE IF THERE HAS BEEN OTHER REPORTS FOR THIS LATELY BUT I WANT TO BE SAFE AND IF THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT FUNCTION RIGHT THEN I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS.
Owner-reported narrative. 99,999 miles reported. Look up ODI 11104507 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11395359 · 2021-02-09 (February 9, 2021)
THE PASSENGERS SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND IT WON'T ALLOW ANY AIRBAG TO ACTIVATE. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED.
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11395359 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
11V299000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
Reported: 2011-05-25 (May 25, 2011)
BMW Is recalling certain model year 2011 Mini Cooper Clubman and Cooper S Clubman vehicles manufactured from February 8, 2011, through May 11, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standard No. 101, "Controls and Displays." These vehicles are equipped with a European specification tachometer that uses brake-system telltales/symbols that do not meet U.S. requirements.
Consequence: In the event of an ABS system problem, only the the outer circle of the symbol illuminates, not the ABS letters. As such, the driver may be unaware that there is a problem with the ABS, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: All affected vehicles have been repaired at dealerships. Therefore, an owner notification letter will not be issued for this campaign. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗12V008000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger
Reported: 2012-01-11 (January 11, 2012)
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2011 MINI COOPER S, 2008-2011 MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN, 2009-2011 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE, 2009-2011 MINI COOPER JCW, 2009-2011 MINI COOPER JCW CLUBMAN, 2009-2011 COOPER JCW CONVERTIBLE, AND 2011 COOPER S COUNTRYMAN PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 14, 2006, THROUGH JANUARY 18, 2011. THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP THAT COOLS THE TURBOCHARGER HAS AN ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BOARD THAT CAN MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT.
Consequence: THE CIRCUIT BOARD MAY SMOLDER WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WATER PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGANDURING FEBRUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-866-275-6464.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V248000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Reported: 2018-04-18 (April 18, 2018)
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 Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.
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 the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.
NHTSA campaign record ↗