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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2005–2012

Mini Cooper S Convertible recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 138 owner complaints for the Mini Cooper S Convertible, covering model years 2005 to 2012. The 2005 model year drew the most complaints (61), and Air Bags is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Mini Cooper S Convertible VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 4 recall campaigns on file
  • 138 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 8 model years with data (2005–2012)
  • most complaints: 2005 (61 for that model year)
  • top component: Air Bags (45 complaints)
  • latest recall 18V248000 (reported Apr 18, 2018)
  • 0 complaints reporting a crash (0.0%)
  • 10 complaints reporting a fire (7.2%)
  • 1 complaint reporting an injury (0.7%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Mini Cooper S Convertible complaints by model year

8 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2005 model year has the most complaints: 61 of 138, or 44.2%. Next come 2006 (36) and 2010 (10). The fewest are for 2012, with 3 complaints.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Mini Cooper S Convertible owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 2005–2012Column chart of 138 complaints across 8 model years. The highest is 2005 with 61. The full figures are in the table below the chart.2005: 61 complaints6120052006: 36 complaints3620062007: 8 complaints820072008: 7 complaints720082009: 9 complaints920092010: 10 complaints1020102011: 4 complaints420112012: 3 complaints32012
Mini Cooper S Convertible complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Mini Cooper S Convertible complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
2005610400
2006360200
200780100
200870110
200990000
2010100100
201140100
201230000
All model years13801010

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Mini Cooper S Convertible components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Air Bags is the component named most often, in 45 complaints (32.6% of all 138), followed by Steering (44) and Engine (16).

Components named most often in Mini Cooper S Convertible complaints (top 15)
Components named most often in Mini Cooper S Convertible complaints (top 15)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Air Bags4532.6%
Steering4431.9%
Engine1611.6%
Power Train1410.1%
Seats128.7%
Electrical System107.2%
Engine and Engine Cooling75.1%
Unknown or Other64.3%
Seat Belts42.9%
Structure42.9%
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)32.2%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic32.2%
Fuel/Propulsion System21.4%
Service Brakes21.4%
Equipment10.7%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Mini Cooper S Convertible recalls

4 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name Cooper S Convertible, newest first. The 4 campaigns cover model years 2005 to 2012. The 2007 and 2011 model years appear in the most campaigns (2 each).

  • 4 recall campaigns
Mini Cooper S Convertible recall campaigns covering each model year
DecadeYears ending in 0Years ending in 1Years ending in 2Years ending in 3Years ending in 4Years ending in 5Years ending in 6Years ending in 7Years ending in 8Years ending in 9
2005: 1 campaign2006: 1 campaign2007: 2 campaigns2008: 1 campaign2009: 1 campaign
2010: 1 campaign2011: 2 campaigns2012: 1 campaign
Highlighted: the model years with the most campaigns.

  1. NHTSA campaign 18V248000

    Reported

    Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/Supercharger; Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine

    Model years 2011–2012

    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.

    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 performed.

    Filed by BMW of North America, LLC

  2. NHTSA campaign 15V205000

    Reported

    Air Bags › Frontal

    Model years 2005–2008

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 MINI Cooper and Cooper S vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to November 28, 2006, and 2005-2008 MINI Cooper Convertible and Cooper S Convertible vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to July 31, 2008. Due to manufacturing, installation, and exposure issues, the front passenger seat occupant detection mat may not function properly and, as a result, the front passenger air bag may not deploy in a crash.

    Consequence:
    An improperly functioning mat may cause the passenger frontal air bag to be inactive when the seat is occupied, and in the event of a crash, the air bag will not deploy, increasing the passenger's risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    MINI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, free of charge. The recall began on October 12, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

    Filed by BMW of North America, LLC

  3. NHTSA campaign 12V008000

    Reported

    Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/Supercharger

    Model years 2009–2011

    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.

    Filed by BMW of North America, LLC

  4. NHTSA campaign 07V533000

    Reported

    Equipment › Other › Labels

    Model year 2007

    Certain convertible vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, 'tire selection and rims.' The standard requires that the tire size and corresponding tire pressure be indicated on the label and the label does not correspond to the actual tires mounted on the vehicle.

    Consequence:
    Incorrect tire pressure can cause premature wear and tire damage which could lead to unfavorable driving conditions increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Owners will be provided with new tire information placards and installation instructions. At the customer's option, a dealer can install the label for them. The recall began on January 16, 2008. Owners may contact Mini at 1-866-275-6464.

    Filed by BMW of North America, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Mini Cooper S Convertible questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Mini Cooper S Convertible have?

NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recall campaigns for the Mini Cooper S Convertible, covering model years 2005 to 2012. The most recent, 18V248000, was reported on April 18, 2018 and is filed under “Engine and engine cooling”. The 2007 and 2011 model years are covered by the most campaigns (2 each).

Which Mini Cooper S Convertible model year has the most complaints?

The 2005 model year, with 61 of the 138 complaints in NHTSA’s file (44.2%). The next are 2006 (36) and 2010 (10). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Mini Cooper S Convertible complaint?

Air Bags is the component named most often: 45 complaints, or 32.6% of all 138. Steering (44) and Engine (16) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Mini Cooper S Convertible?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Mini dealer.

How many Mini Cooper S Convertible complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 138 complaints, 0 report a crash, 10 a fire, 1 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Mini models

8 models · most complaints first

The Mini models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Mini VIN decoder with every Mini model page, WMI code and VIN note.

All Mini models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.