2012 Mini Cooper Convertible reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2012 Mini Cooper Convertible has 66 complaints with NHTSA after 15 years, or 2 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Cooper Convertible years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.

2012 Mini Cooper Convertible
Photo by Dietmar Rabich, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

66

Per year

2

Recalls

0

Years on the road

15

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (28 of 66), then Engine (17) and Air bags (12). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash, 7 that report a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2013

The 2013 Cooper Convertible has 47 complaints, 1 per year. The 2012 has more complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Mini Cooper Convertible. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (0)

No recalls on file with NHTSA for this model year.

Complaints by component (66 total)

Electrical system
28
Engine
17
Air bags
12
Exterior lighting
5
Fuel and propulsion system
4
Seats
4
Powertrain
3
Service brakes
3
Seat belts
2
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Engine and engine cooling
1
Steering
1
Structure
1
Suspension
1
Visibility
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Wheels
1
Show 9 more Show less
Crash-flagged

1

Fire-flagged

7

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

22012220132201452015112016320179201842019320201202132022720231020241202532026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "This vin waa not included in a recall however had recall issues it obtained water in the footwell which mini has a recall issue for this and the car was caught on fire it is at the dealership in [XXX] INFORMATION…"
    Electrical system, Unknown or other · filed 2026-07-16
  • "ELECTRIC SHORT CIRCUIT. The electronic module in the driver side footwell area may short circuit. when I unlock the car or try to start, I hear loud electrical SHORT CIRCUIT noises coming out of the seating area. I am…"
    Electrical system · filed 2026-05-25
  • "The electronic control module in the driver’s side footwell short-circuit, battery and electrical in the car are being drained and car does not work properly and completely drains battery."
    Electrical system · filed 2026-02-04
  • "My 2012 mini cooper has a Footwell Module recall and I took it to the dealer and they refused to replace it but they said i could pay to have it replaced even though it was a recall"
    Electrical system · filed 2025-03-02
  • "Mini BMW is fully aware of an issue with their OC3 detection mat on the passengers side and offered a extended warranty of 10 years/ 100k miles. This is insufficient coverage for a crucial saftey part and has led to a…"
    Air bags · filed 2024-12-04

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2012 Mini Cooper Convertible C FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 5 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Cooper convertible 1.6L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 27 34 30 MPG $2650
Cooper convertible 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 27 34 30 MPG $2650

Specs and fitment

R57 Convertible, 2012–2015
Body styles Convertible
Oil 0W-30 (BMW LL; verify under-hood label) , 4.4 qt capacity
Tire size 175/65R15, 195/55R16, 205/45R17, 205/40R18 or 205/55R17 (trim-dependent)

Compare

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Mini Cooper Convertible reliable?

The 2012 Mini Cooper Convertible has 66 complaints with NHTSA after 15 years, or 2 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Cooper Convertible years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.

What are common problems with a 2012 Mini Cooper Convertible?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (28 of 66), then Engine (17) and Air bags (12). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash, 7 that report a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2012 Mini Cooper Convertible more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Cooper Convertible has 47 complaints, 1 per year. The 2012 has more complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Mini Cooper Convertible been recalled?

NHTSA has no recalls on file for the 2012 Mini Cooper Convertible.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Mini Cooper Convertible?

Owners have filed 66 complaints about the 2012 Mini Cooper Convertible with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Mini Cooper Convertible get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Mini Cooper Convertible is 30 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a MINI Cooper Convertible use?

R57-era convertibles commonly use 0W-30 (~4.4 qt with filter); F57-era models commonly use 0W-20 (~4.5 qt)—verify the under-hood label and BMW LL approval.

What tire sizes fit a MINI Cooper Convertible?

OEM sizes commonly include 175/65R15, 195/55R16, 205/45R17, and 205/40R18 depending on trim and generation.

What steering-gear recall covers certain MINI Convertibles?

Recall 19V601000 covers certain 2019 MINI Cooper S Convertible vehicles (among other BMW/MINI models) where the steering gear tie rod may have been assembled incorrectly.