2013 Mini COOPER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
47 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
37,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 47 complaints (38.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 29.8% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 8.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 6.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.1% |
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 | 18 |
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger | 4 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
Electrical System: 18; Air Bags: 11; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger: 4; Engine: 4; Seat Belts: 4; Exterior Lighting: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 28 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 4; 2017: 3; 2018: 4; 2019: 3; 2022: 4; 2023: 10; 2024: 13; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 10533811 · 2013-08-06 (August 6, 2013)
THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STOPPED WORKING. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC WINDOW WITH A ONE-TOUCH FEATURE. AT FIRST, THE ONE-TOUCH FEATURE STOPPED WORKING. THEN NOTHING WORKED TO GET THE WINDOW TO GO UP OR DOWN. UPON PRESSING THE BUTTON THAT CONTROLS THIS WINDOW, THE WINDOW DID NOTHING AND A FAINT CLICKING SOUND COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S DOOR/FOOTWELL AREA. I TOOK THIS CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THEY KEPT IT FOR 3 BUSINESS DAYS. THE WINDOW WORKED WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR AND CONTINUED TO WORK FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND A …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10533811 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10545544 · 2013-09-26 (September 26, 2013)
I JUST BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2013 MINI COOPER LAST YEAR ON NOVEMBER 2012. SOMETIME DURING LAST WEEK SEPTEMBER 18, 2013, I DROVE HOME FROM WORK TURN OFF MY CAR BUT THE KEY WOULDN'T RELEASE. I HAVE TO PRESS MANY TIMES FOR IT TO RELEASE. THE NEXT DAY HEADING OUT TO WORK, START THE CAR BUT THE GEAR SHIFT GOT STUCK. IT WOULDN'T SHIFT TO REVERSE. I CALL THE DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE MINI DEALER CALLED TO NOTIFY THAT THEY WILL NEED TO STAY OVERNIGHT AS IF THEY SAID THEY ARE WAITING FOR ONE PART TO COME IN. THE N…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10545544 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10633394 · 2014-09-15 (September 15, 2014)
FROM INITIAL DELIVERY THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATES A SPEED THAT IS 8% OVER ACTUAL. I HAVE FILED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WITH MINI TO GET THIS CORRECTED. THEY TELL ME THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE 2010 MODEL. IN ORDER TO ACCURATELY MONITOR MY SPEED, I USE AN APP ON MY IPHONE THAT USES GPS TO DISPLAY ACTUAL SPEED. WHEN USING THE IPHONE FOR THIS PURPOSE, I PLACE IT ON THE DASH. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE IPHONE CAN BE A DISTRACTION AND THUS A SAFETY HAZARD. I SUSPECT OTHER DRIVERS ARE USING THIS OR OTHER METH…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10633394 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10783526 · 2015-10-19 (October 19, 2015)
I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 10/15/2015 WHICH I REAR ENDED A PICKUP TRUCK. I WAS GOING ROUGHLY 45-50 MPH WHEN THE TRUCK IN FRONT SLAMMED THEIR BRAKES WHICH CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO HIS REAR END OF THE TRUCK. THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS IN BAD SHAPE AND LUCKILY I WAS NOT INJURED. HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH I FIND VERY DISTURBING.
Owner-reported narrative. 37,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10783526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10852862 · 2016-04-01 (April 1, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS FRACTURED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE AND WAS AT RISK OF COMPLETELY DETACHING. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED IN THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10852862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10862049 · 2016-04-28 (April 28, 2016)
THE CUP HOLDER LEAKS IF THERE IS ANY FLUID SPILLED IN IT AND SHORTS OUT AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT CONTROLS THE GEAR SHIFT KNOB. EVEN THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF LIQUID CAN CAUSE THIS.
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10862049 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10865535 · 2016-05-17 (May 17, 2016)
I DROVE AN AUTOMATIC 2013 CERTIFIED MINI COOPER OFF THE LOT WITH 33K PRIOR MILES. AFTER LESS THAN A WEEK, AND AFTER ONLY DRIVING A TOTAL OF 254 MILES, THE ACCELERATOR FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I DID NOT LOOSE ALL POWER, THE GAS PEDAL JUST QUIT RESPONDING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. ALL OTHER SYSTEMS IN THE CAR SEEMED FULLY RESPONSIVE/OPERATIONAL WITH EXCEPTION TO THE ACCELERATOR. THE ENGINE DID NOT REV AND THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR EVEN WHEN IT WAS PUSHED FULLY DOWN. MY CAR WAS MANUALLY PUSHED OUT OF THE INTERSECTION/TR…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10865535 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10906760 · 2016-09-14 (September 14, 2016)
2013 MINI COOPER PACEMAN BASE AUTO. 05/30/2016- WE EXPERIENCE INSTANCES WHERE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE MAINTAINING SPEED AFTER RELEASING GAS PEDAL WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET, HIGHWAY, CITY STREET GOING DOWNHILL. DURATION OF THE PERIOD OF CONTINUED ACCELERATION MAINTAINING SPEED TYPICALLY LAST 1 TO 3 SECONDS. WE NOTED THAT THE OCCURRENCE OF THESE INSTANCES BEGAN RECENTLY AFTER ANNUAL SERVICE IN 05/2016. WE INQUIRED IF VEHICLE HAD RECENT SOFTWARE UPDATE. DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE ANY DEFECT. DEALER CITED ADAPTIVE ENGINE CONTRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10906760 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.
23V337000 · Electrical System
Reported: 2023-05-11 (May 11, 2023)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2014 MINI Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Clubman John Cooper Works, and 2007-2013 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. The electronic control module in the driver's side footwell area may short-circuit, due to corrosion from water and road salt.
Consequence: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the sunroof drains, interior footwell area, and FRM and, depending upon the results of the inspection, certain components will be replaced. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
NHTSA campaign record ↗