2012 MINI Cooper Roadster Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

“The failed component is the "Footwell Relay Module" (FRM) which enables communication between the instrument panel in the passenger compartment and the engine control components in the engine compartment. When this component fails the following essential controls become”

“The FRM module failed immediately after we got the car which rendered it undriveable because the power windows, power door locks, turn signals and key fob were inoperable”

“STARTED CAR, RED SERVICE ICON ON DASH ALTERNATING WITH DRIVER DOOR OPEN ICON. THIS WAS A LOSS OF INTERIOR LIGHTS, SIGNAL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS, WINDOW UP/DOWN CONTROLS, AND DOOR LOCK FUNCTIONS”

“WATER PUMP FAILURE. BEGAN TO NOTICE SMALL AMOUNT OF LIQUID UNDER CAR IN APRIL 2016, THOUGHT IT WAS CONDENSATION FROM A/C. LEAK WORSENED AND CALLED MINI IN JUNE 2016 TO CHECK IT OUT. WATER PUMP FAILURE ON VEHICLE WITH 45,500 MILES”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO CHARGER AND THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED”

“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CAUSE: HEATING FAULT CODE IN DIAGNOSIS(THERMOSTAT ACTIVATION). THERMOSTAT, HOUSING , AND ADAPTER REPLACED. REMOVED AND REPLACED COOLANT, CHECKED COOLING SYSTEM FOR LEAKS”

“WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON A WINTER DAY, THE REAR PANEL OF THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF LITERALLY EXPANDED UPWARD AND SHATTERED. THE BULK OF THE GLASS FELL INTO THE CAR. THERE WAS NO IMPACT WITH FOREIGN OBJECTS OR CHIPS IN THE GLASS”

“WHILE TRAVELING ON I90 AT APPROXIMATELY 72MPH, I HEARD A VERY LOUD POP AND PART OF MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED. ONCE AT A SAFE STOPPING PLACE, I TOOK A LOOK AT THE SUNROOF AND I DIDN'T NOTICE ANY OUTSIDE FORCE THAT CAUSED THIS”

“VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND, AFTER GOING OVER SEVERAL POT HOLES, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED, AND THE ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED”

“VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND AFTER GOING OVER SEVERAL POT HOLES THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED AND AN ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED”

“The car just randomly caught on fire while off in my driveway. Noticed a weird sound outside looked out and noticed the windshield wipers were going even though the car was off and I hadn't driven it. Opened the door to bellows of smoke coming out”

“WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES ON THE HIGHWAY, MY MINI COOPER SHUT OFF COMPLETELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER AND THAT IS WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE, WITHIN 6 MINUTES MY WHOLE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, CAR TOTALED”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE AFTER IT STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED INTO A PARKING LOT, WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED SOME MINOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND”

“PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING LEADING TO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG BEING DISABLED WHILE IN MOTION. A PERSON SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TRIGGERS THE AIRBAG SENSOR WARNING AND DISABLING OF THE AIRBAG”

“PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS RANDOMLY DISABLED (WITH WARNING LIGHT/TONE) WHEN MY 63# DOG IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. CAUSE IS A FAULTY "PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT MAT" THAT OTHERS HAVE REPORTED WILL COST OVER $1500 TO REPLACE”

“The passenger seat occupancy sensor has malfunctioned. The airbag turns off when a passenger of sufficient weight is seated; a warning light comes on intermittently”

“The clutch has been a problem. The clutch wears out prematurely, causing loss of acceleration, which caused loss of power trying to merge into freeway traffic, which nearly resulted in a collision with a semi”

“FEW DAYS LATER WHEN ON VACATION DRIVING THROUGH NEVADA, THE CLUTCH COMPLETELY GAVE OUT & LEFT US STRANDED FROM 8:30 AT NIGHT UNTIL 2:30 IN THE MORNING BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK COULD GET TO US”

“MY DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS MELTING. THE PLASTIC THE THE LIGHT BUILD SCREWS INTO IS ACTUALLY MELTING T THE BRAKE LIGHT BULB. I'VE PAID MINI TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE AND THE SAME ISSUES HAS SURFACED”

“BRAKE LIGHT FAILED, BULB COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID THE COMPLETE ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. UPON REMOVING THE ASSEMBLY, THE FIXTURE WAS REVIEWED TO FIND WHERE EXCESIVE HEAT HAD MELTED THE CONNECTION TO THE BULB”