Model year record

2011 MINI Cooper S Convertible recalls & problems

The 2011 MINI Cooper S Convertible has 2 safety recalls and 4 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (3 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints4filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Engine and engine coolingApr 18, 2018

Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/supercharger

Recall 18V24800047,806 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.

Components: Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/supercharger; Engine and engine cooling › Engine

Engine and engine coolingJan 11, 2012

Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/supercharger

Recall 12V00800090,368 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: THE CIRCUIT BOARD MAY SMOLDER WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2011 Mini Cooper S Convertible C FWD

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	10.1%

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Cooper S Convertible

30mpg combined

City / highway	27 / 35 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,750/year to fuel

Cooper S Convertible

28mpg combined

City / highway	25 / 33 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,950/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Fires	Typical mileage*
Electrical system	3	1	38,000 mi
Electronic stability control (esc)	1	1	—
Fuel/propulsion system	1	1	—
Air bags	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system
The contact owns a 2011 Mini Cooper Convertible. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the electronics operated erratically and had limited functionality. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the electronic control module inside the footwell had shorted out due to a water leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 66,000.
Jun 20, 2023 · 66,000 miles
Air bags
AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATING FAULTY DEVICE. THE INDICATIONS STARTED TO APPEARS RANDOMLY AND MOST FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT HOWEVER TODAY IS ON ALL TIME.
May 10, 2018
Electronic stability control (esc)Fire
I DROVE 20 FEET OUT OF MY GARAGE AND SMELT A SURFER SMELL. I PUT MY CONVERTIBLE TOP DOWN, PUT THE CAR IN PARK WALKED AROUND TO SEE IF IT WAS SMOKING OR IF THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE OR MUFFLERS. WHEN I COULD NOT DETECT WHERE THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM, I PUT THE TOP BACK UP, CLOSING IT AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I LOCKED THE CAR AND WENT INTO MY GARAGE. AS I LOOKED BACK I SAW SPARKS COMING FROM THE VENT ON THE HOOD. I YELLED FOR MY HUSBAND & AS HE LOOKED FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHER I CALLED 911 & FILMED THE CAR. WITHIN 30 SECONDS THE CAR WAS ON FIRE & WITH 90 SECOND TOTALLY UP IN FLAMES. NOTHING BUT THE SHELL OF THE CAR REMAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE & FIRE MARSHAL WERE PRESENT.…
Oct 23, 2016 · 38,000 miles
Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN USING THE KEY FOB. IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NO FAILURE WAS PRESENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
Jan 1, 2012 · 19,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Engine compartment fireClosedLed to recall 12V008000
In a January 10, 2012 letter to NHTSA, BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) identifying a defect in the electric auxiliary water pump in approximately 88,911 model year (MY) 2007-2011 Mini Cooper vehicles manufactured from November 14, 2006 through January 18, 2011 (Recall 12V-008).According to BMW, the auxiliary water pump on vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder turbocharged engines may overheat.Electro-migration can cause the pump electronic circuit board to overheat resulting in smoldering of the water pump. If smoldering occurs, it may lead to an engine compartment or vehicle fire.The pump supplier, Pierburg Pump Technology GmbH, redesigned the pump to address factors that may contribute to circuit board overheating.The redesigned pumps were completely implemented in production vehicles by January 2011.Recall 12V-008 was the third recall…
PE11036 · opened Oct 11, 2011 · closed Jun 11, 2012