2011 MINI Cooper S: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2011 MINI Cooper S
On the 2011 MINI Cooper S, the failure owners report most often is other electrical problem, with 8 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 60,000 miles. Overall it scores 75 out of 100, high risk for a 2011.
High risk for a 2011 — 54th riskiest of the 283 2011 vehicles we can rate. 46 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
The failures owners actually file about
Owners have reported 16 named failure modes on the 2011 MINI Cooper S, and the three most-reported carry 39% of everything filed.
Other electrical problem leads with 8 reports and about 1.7 per 1,000 vehicles.
Water pump failure follows with 5 reports, median 60,000 miles. 2 of those reports mention a fire.
Other engine problem follows with 5 reports, median 80,000 miles. 4 of those reports mention a fire.
By system, the reports fall mostly into cooling (10), engine (10) and electrical (8).
The mileage the reports cluster at
33 of the reports on the 2011 MINI Cooper S came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 60,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 36% by 50,000 miles and 88% by 100,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.
The busiest stretch is between 80,000 and 90,000 miles, which alone holds 18% of the dated reports.
24% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 16. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 8 a fire and 4 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 5.39, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, water pump failure at $500–$2,200, other engine problem at $300–$4,000 and timing chain, belt or tensioner failure at $1,200–$4,500. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
43% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 8 | 3 | — | 41k | — | 1.7 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Water pump failure | cooling | 5 | 5 | — | 60k | — | 1.1 | $500–$2,200 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 5 | 4 | — | 78k | — | 1.1 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 47k | — | 0.6 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Software fault or failed update | software | 3 | 3 | — | 7k | — | 0.6 | $0–$600 | Moderate |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.4 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 2 | 2 | — | 53k | — | 0.4 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Thermostat failure | cooling | 2 | 2 | — | 65k | — | 0.4 | $250–$900 | Moderate |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 2 | 2 | — | 30k | — | 0.4 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 2 | 2 | — | 80k | — | 0.4 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.4 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Overheating | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 100k | — | 0.2 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 1 | 1 | — | 96k | — | 0.2 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 1 | 1 | — | 135k | — | 0.2 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 1 | 1 | — | 70k | — | 0.2 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 5 | 3 | — | 70k | — | 1.1 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2011 MINI Cooper S draws about 9.7 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 92nd percentile of complaint rates among 2011 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 4,756 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2011 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other electrical problem
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 drive way, my car proceeded to smolder two more times. We disconnected the battery and finally all the smoking stopped. My car has been at the bmw momentum dealership since august 12, 2017 with no resolution on what caused the fire. According to mini, they were sending a fire specialist to see my car which they said would take some time. My car was finally looked at the first week of october and as of this email, bmw has not informed me as to what caused the fire. This incident is very concerning to me. My three kids were upstairs doing homework when my car caught on fire. Had I not paid attention…
Water pump failure
Car severely overheated. Melted coolant system manifold and hosing pipe. Repair cost $1,100+. Days later crack in water pump grew. Immediate car malfunction occurred resulting in towing the car to mt laurel mini. Their assessment was that coolant was found on the dipstick of the engine oil. Recommended a new engine. Currently fighting to have company cover all costs and damages. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 mini cooper s. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle violently shook, overheated, and an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the water pump was leaking. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000. The VIN was not available.
Other engine problem
After coming home from a routine drive. I parked my car in the drive way. About 30 minutes later I smelt something burning and noticed my hood of my car smoking. I immediately ran outside and started housing of the bubbling hood with a garden hose. I managed to pop the hood and put out the fire which had cover most of the engine at that time.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 mini cooper s hard top. The contact stated that the vehicle caught fire while parked and unoccupied. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that the fire originated at the turbo system due to a failed cooling system. The fire department was not present and a police report was not filed. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12v008000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
Recalls on the 2011 model year
NHTSA has issued 3 recall campaigns covering the 2011 MINI Cooper S, affecting an estimated 8,945 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover electrical system, engine and engine cooling:engine and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
97,933 vehicles 2023-05-11- Defect
- 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…
- 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
47,806 vehicles 2018-04-18- Defect
- 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…
- 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…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
90,368 vehicles 2012-01-11- Defect
- 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.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2011 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Better and worse years of the same car
High risk for a 2011 — 54th riskiest of the 283 2011 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 14 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2002 comes out best at 65 and 2007 worst at 78, with 2011 itself at 75.
If the model year is negotiable, 2002, 2004, 2012, 2005, 2013, 2015, 2003, 2006 and 2014 score lower than 2011 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2007–2013 generation specifically, 2012 is the strongest year at 66 and 2007 the weakest at 78.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2007-2013 generation, 2012 MINI Cooper S scores best at 66 and 2007 MINI Cooper S worst at 78.
Where these figures stop being useful
46 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 46 reports, 33 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 72% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2011 MINI Cooper S?
The most-reported failures are other electrical problem (8 reports, median 40,000 miles), water pump failure (5 reports, median 60,000 miles) and other engine problem (5 reports, median 80,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
Is the 2011 MINI Cooper S reliable?
It scores 75 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 54th riskiest of the 283 2011 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2011 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the MINI Cooper S is best?
Within the 2007–2013 generation, 2012 scores best at 66 out of 100 and 2007 worst at 78. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed