KnownCarProblems2010 Mini Cooper S Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Mini Cooper S, most often about the engine (73% of complaints, typically around 62,500 miles). It is 9th of 21 Cooper S model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2010 Mini Cooper S problems
Engine
43 complaints · 73%Half of these problems showed up before 62,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
Engine experience rapid oil loss which coated underside of vehicle including tires. When the brakes were applied the vehicle became unstable but I was able to avoid a crash. While pulling to the side of the highway the oil light came on. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic. He reported that a fastener on the cam chain…
Mi vehculo Mini Cooper S 2010, estando estacionado en el garage por ms de 12 horas y sin prender el motor en ningn momento comenz a incendiarse sin ningn motivo. Por fortuna haba personas que alertaran de lo ocurrido y pude apagar el fuego en el vehculo, aunque ya haba consumido partes elctrica, de motor y cofre, etc.…
Air bags
6 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window, frontal, sensor.
Passenger side seat mat for detecting passengers presents, intermittently fails causing the air bag to be deactivated when a passenger is present and the vehicle is moving.
The passenger side air bag light indicated the air bag was not engaged. The passenger seat started getting very hot (this model does not have heated seats). We removed the seat from the vehicle and innvestigated. We found that the air bag seat mat was overheating. The circuit was melted from the heat. If we had not…
Fuel system
6 complaints · 10%Purchased car april 2014 w 46,000 miles. Warranty history showed valve gasket replaced. At 64000 miles dealer says it needs to be replaced again. Not told at purchase - at Mini dlr - that car consumes a quart of oil every 700 miles which I was just told by local servicing dealer that they consider that normal. Leak at…
Got the high pressure fuel pump issue, the car will not start and stall and will not keep in ideal until stepping on the gas over 3000 RPM for over 1 mins, it stalled on local street couple times. The dealership said Mini cover up to 7 years only.
Transmission
5 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles.
Timing chain tensioner failed and stretched timing chain now the death rattle and bmw Mini cooper knows 2010 were affected there is lots of data online for 2010 Mini Cooper S timing chain and tensioner failing at 20k to 50k mile range. We have 42k miles and in range of class action that was filed. They won't fix issue…
Vehicle was in motion and my wife heard a noise- chose to ignore noise. After researching the problem I discovered the timing chain could catastrophically fail leaving my wife on mountain roads with no power and loss of power steering . Although bmw has been aware of this problem for years they have bob and weaved…
Electrical
4 complaints · 7%The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper S. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle overheated and the temperature gauge warning light illuminated. In addition, smoke and a burning oil odor emitted from under the hood. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced.…
I have Mini cooper r56 s models and I have spent almost 5k in just repair the timing chain is broke every 2 or 3 weeks this car is piece of crack every 2 or 3 weeks has something new !! Never would buy again this piece of crack and wouldn't recommend to anyone get this piece of crack!!
Other or unspecified
3 complaints · 5%Cold start problem, no power, lots of noise. Timing chain on r56 Mini cooper. There is a service bulletin but there should be a recall. It sounded like the motor was going to blow up!
I have Mini cooper r56 s models and I have spent almost 5k in just repair the timing chain is broke every 2 or 3 weeks this car is piece of crack every 2 or 3 weeks has something new !! Never would buy again this piece of crack and wouldn't recommend to anyone get this piece of crack!!
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2010 Mini Cooper S recalls
Electrical: electrical system
Risk: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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 electronic control module in the driver's side footwell area may short-circuit, due to corrosion from water and road salt.
Engine: turbo/supercharger
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine: turbo/supercharger
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Equipment: labels
Risk: Erroneous tire information could lead to improper tire fitment and inflation which could affect the durability of the tire and the stability of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The recall began on march 4, 2010. Owners may contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
Full defect summary
Bmw is recalling certain model year 2010 mini cooper and cooper s vehicles for failing comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the affected vehicles were equipped with 17 inch wheels, but their label states that they were equipped with 16 inch wheels. Also the tire pressure stated on the label for the cooper s is incorrect.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Engine compartment fire
Summary
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 t
Questions about the 2010 Mini Cooper S
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Mini Cooper S?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (43 complaints, typically around 62,500 miles); air bags (6 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles); fuel system (6 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2010 Mini Cooper S have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 11, 2023 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2010 a bad year for the Mini Cooper S?
- It is 9th of 21 Cooper S model years by number of complaints, with 59 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.