2010 Mini COOPER S CONVERTIBLE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
27,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 10 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 2 | 20.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 20.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 10.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
Engine: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3; Air Bags: 2; Electrical System: 1; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 1; Steering: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2010: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 2; 2020: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10300084 · 2010-01-17 (January 17, 2010)
COMPLETE CLUTCH FAILURE WITH ONLY 3700 MILES ON CARL IT WAS REPLACED BY DEALER BUT "NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY" DEALER CLAIMS EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR IN CAR THAT IS NOT ABUSED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10300084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10358563 · 2010-10-01 (October 1, 2010)
MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE 2006, LESS THAN 40K MILES. I WAS DRIVING FOR MAYBE 6 MILES AND WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY AND THE CAR WAS MOVING VERY ODDLY SO I PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY TO CHECK WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR. NOTICING THE SMOKE FORM THE HOOD BEFORE I GOT OUT THE CAR AND THOUGHT MY CAR WAS OVER HEATED. I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST CALL THE ROADSIDE SERVICE TO HELP. BUT WHAT HAD TOOK PLACE NEXT WAS SOMETHING I CAN ONLY IMAGINE FROM A MOVIE SET ....SMOKE..HEAVY SMOKE...FLAME FIRE. FIRE…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358563 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454469 · 2012-04-08 (April 8, 2012)
THE AIRBAG "OFF" LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10454469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10547666 · 2013-10-11 (October 11, 2013)
ENGINE NOISE DUE TO TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER DEFECT. IF THE CHAIN OR TENSIONER FAIL COMPLETELY THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL IN MOVING TRAFFIC OR CREATE A ROADSIDE HAZARD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10547666 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10692738 · 2015-03-07 (March 7, 2015)
KNOCKING, TIMING. OVER 2 THOUSAND SIGNATURES OF OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10692738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10823201 · 2016-01-30 (January 30, 2016)
I WAS DRIVING ON I 280 EAST AND NEWAR EXIT 8B THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. THERE WAS LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY TIGHT. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRACTOR. I GOT OUT OF THE EXIT (EXIT 7) AND GOT MYSELF TOWED. THE MECHANIC THINKS IT IS THE TIMING BELT THAT IS BROKEN.
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10823201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11098795 · 2018-05-30 (May 30, 2018)
LATCH ON TRUNK UNLOCKS AND RELEASES THE TRUNK WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAN CAUSE THE CONTENTS OF THE TRUNK TO FALL ON TO THE ROAD ENDANGERING OTHER DRIVERS. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ON THE MINI OWNER SITE
Owner-reported narrative. 40,110 miles reported. Look up ODI 11098795 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11163240 · 2018-12-24 (December 24, 2018)
THE VEHICLE IS A STANDARD MODEL CONVERTIBLE, NOT AN "S" MODEL. TRUNK LATCH MALFUNCTION WHILE IN MOTION: TRUNK LATCH OPENS/DISENGAGES SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, WITH THE KEY INSERTED AND THE MOTOR RUNNING. THIS UNPREDICTABLE FAULT CAN OCCUR ANYWHERE, INCLUDING ON A FREEWAY. THE TRUNK LID CAN DROP TO FULL OPEN, EXPOSING ITEMS STORED IN TRUNK AS POSSIBLE DEBRIS-THREAT TO VEHICLES FOLLOWING. DRIVER OF VEHICLE IS PRESENTED WITH CHOICE BETWEEN RISKING STOPPING (FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE SHOULDER OF A FREEWAY) OR RISKING INCIDENT I…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11163240 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗