Owners have filed 72 complaints
about the 2013 Mini Cooper with NHTSA between 2013 and 2025.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 18 of 19 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 24
Against the median year of the Mini Cooper. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 7
1.4% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 78
46% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
14.2%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
28.3%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
312.5%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
937.5%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
625.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
14.2%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
28.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Aug 2013peak 5Apr 2025
Recalls on the 2013 Mini Cooper
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
23V337000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
Risk: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 202328121,319 units in Canada
Electrical
Issue: On certain vehicles, the footwell module (FRM) may become contaminated by a mixture of salt and moisture inside the vehicle. Over time, this can lead to corrosion that could cause a short circuit. Safety Risk: A short circuit can create a fire risk, even while the vehicle is parked and turned off. Corrective actions: BMW will notify owners by mail. The corrective actions for this recall are under development. BMW advises that you should park your vehicle outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until the recall repairs have been completed.
Recall 201854418,468 units in Canada
Electrical
On certain vehicles, the footwell module (FRM3) may become contaminated by a mixture of salt and moisture which could lead to corrosion over time. This could cause a short circuit, resulting in overheating of the module that could lead to a fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect the footwell module, and replace if necessary. A protective film will be also installed over the module. Note: Owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors until the recall repairs have been completed.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 37,500 milesDuluth, GACrash
AIR BAGS
I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 10/15/2015 WHICH I REAR ENDED A PICKUP TRUCK. I WAS GOING ROUGHLY 45-50 MPH WHEN THE TRUCK IN FRONT SLAMMED THEIR BRAKES WHICH CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO HIS REAR END OF THE TRUCK. THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS IN BAD SHAPE AND LUCKILY I WAS NOT INJURED. HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH I FIND VERY DISTURBING.
NHTSA complaint #10783526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
New York, NY
AIR BAGS
Error code is 93C3 Passenger Seat Occupancy Detector. This seems to be a known problem on almost every Mini Cooper and should be recalled and replaced. Car barely has 63k miles on it.
NHTSA complaint #11654599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
New York, NY
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Error code is 93C3 Passenger Seat Occupancy Detector. This seems to be a known problem on almost every Mini Cooper and should be recalled and replaced. Car barely has 63k miles on it.
NHTSA complaint #11654599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Highlands, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Thermostat sensor malfunction. Mini coopers all around world had issues with the first generation thermostats and sensors, they created an entirely new system for all new minis with a new thermostat house and different sensor type. Yet they did not recall all the other minis when they don’t even sell the old thermostat anymore. So the new house and sensor won’t fit on the first gen models. This is a worldwide issue with first gen models
NHTSA complaint #11645399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brentwood, NY
SEATS
Passenger occupancy sensor malfunctions all the time and there are hundreds of claims regarding this issue but was never addressed by the manufacturer The same issue prompted a recall in older models but has not been corrected in newer ones
NHTSA complaint #11621760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brentwood, NY
AIR BAGS
Passenger occupancy sensor malfunctions all the time and there are hundreds of claims regarding this issue but was never addressed by the manufacturer The same issue prompted a recall in older models but has not been corrected in newer ones
NHTSA complaint #11621760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brentwood, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Passenger occupancy sensor malfunctions all the time and there are hundreds of claims regarding this issue but was never addressed by the manufacturer The same issue prompted a recall in older models but has not been corrected in newer ones
NHTSA complaint #11621760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Frisco, TX
SEATS
As per NHTSA there was a recall the replace OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT but I never received recall notice and just passed 10 years with 40K millage and started getting air bag light, dealer is not replacing it under warranty, if they was a recall they should have replaced my seat earlier so that I would not have this issue today. is there a way to extend warranty to longer time or recall all the cars and replace them so that we do not have to spend 2k to replace it? "01 11 16_OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT: LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS/120,000 MILES"
NHTSA complaint #11617003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Frisco, TX
SEAT BELTS
As per NHTSA there was a recall the replace OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT but I never received recall notice and just passed 10 years with 40K millage and started getting air bag light, dealer is not replacing it under warranty, if they was a recall they should have replaced my seat earlier so that I would not have this issue today. is there a way to extend warranty to longer time or recall all the cars and replace them so that we do not have to spend 2k to replace it? "01 11 16_OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT: LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS/120,000 MILES"
NHTSA complaint #11617003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Frisco, TX
AIR BAGS
As per NHTSA there was a recall the replace OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT but I never received recall notice and just passed 10 years with 40K millage and started getting air bag light, dealer is not replacing it under warranty, if they was a recall they should have replaced my seat earlier so that I would not have this issue today. is there a way to extend warranty to longer time or recall all the cars and replace them so that we do not have to spend 2k to replace it? "01 11 16_OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT: LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS/120,000 MILES"
NHTSA complaint #11617003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Murrieta, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Blinkers stopped working and windows are no long rolling down
NHTSA complaint #11609881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Murrieta, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Blinkers stopped working and windows are no long rolling down
NHTSA complaint #11609881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Middleton, WI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2013 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11595123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westminster, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2013 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11576036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cincinnati, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2013 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11575352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Denver, CO
POWER TRAIN
Freeze plug randomly popped out while driving causing vehicle to stall in the middle of traffic almost causing a major accident and or death. Research indicates there has been numerous complaints by Mini Cooper owners experiencing the same issue of a premature unexplained failure with no action taken from Mini to mitigate this safety issue. I’m lucky to be alive.
NHTSA complaint #11574805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Denver, CO
ENGINE
Freeze plug randomly popped out while driving causing vehicle to stall in the middle of traffic almost causing a major accident and or death. Research indicates there has been numerous complaints by Mini Cooper owners experiencing the same issue of a premature unexplained failure with no action taken from Mini to mitigate this safety issue. I’m lucky to be alive.
NHTSA complaint #11574805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Denver, CO
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Freeze plug randomly popped out while driving causing vehicle to stall in the middle of traffic almost causing a major accident and or death. Research indicates there has been numerous complaints by Mini Cooper owners experiencing the same issue of a premature unexplained failure with no action taken from Mini to mitigate this safety issue. I’m lucky to be alive.
NHTSA complaint #11574805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sunnyside, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2013 Mini Cooper Hardtop. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11571475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Laughlin, NV
WHEELS
I wrote to you before. My complaint number is/was:11559619. I never received a response from you. I explained in my previous complaint that I purchased a used car from Carvana in August of 2022. I bought a 2013 Mini Cooper S. This car comes standard with run-flat tires. When I took possession of the car there were 4 brand new tires on it. I drove the car for a year or so, and got a flat tire one night. There is no spare in this car because there is no room for a spare. I was stranded on the side of a busy highway with NON-run-flat tires and no spare because Carvana replaced the standard run-flats with non-run-flat tires. I had no way of knowing this until I got a flat and found myself stranded on the side of the road, alone, at night. Carvana never informed me that the tires they put on the car were not run flat tires, and they did not provide me with any type of flat tire pump or anything like that. They sold me an unsafe car! I am STILL driving a car with no spare and non-run-flat tires all because Carvana wanted to save a few bucks and figured I wouldn't find out until the 7-day or 30-day warranty had long ago expired. Carvana is guilty of selling an unsafe car. They know that the Mini Cooper comes with run flat tires and that there is no spare in the car, yet they didn't care and replaced the tires with cheaper non-run-flat tires. I have contacted Carvana multiple times but they just tell me that since I didn't report this issue within the 7-day return window I'm out of luck. How would I have known the tires they put on the car before selling it were not standard tires until I had a flat tire! I am not able to schedule my flat tire so that it happens within their short warranty window. I have contact the States Attorney General's office, the BBB, Consumer Affairs and eveyone tells me that they don't handle these types of complaints. I need you to help me get Carvana to replace the unsafe equip they put on the car with safe tires! PLEASE!!
NHTSA complaint #11567151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,000 milesPine River, MN
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
The contact owns a 2013 Mini Cooper. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the passenger's side seat occupancy sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 106,000.
NHTSA complaint #11567358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,000 milesBrooklyn, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2013 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 20-30 MPH on a slight incline and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle was sluggish and delayed while responding. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving on a slight incline. The contact stated that a service warning light and the check engine warning light were illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11564406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 79,000 milesYarmouth, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2013 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the footwell control module had failed. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and diagnosed that the footwell control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11563554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odessa, FL
AIR BAGS
BMW/MINI have known about a faulty airbag sensor in the seats, yet never did a recall. The passenger side airbag does not operate when someone sits in the seat due to a faulty sensor on the seat cushion. BMW was around $1600 to replace this. Big safety concern if a crash happens and air bag does not go off. Should be a factory recall.
NHTSA complaint #11562952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Austin, TX
SEAT BELTS
The footwell module that controls the lights, brake lights windows and dashboard is faulty on all mini cooper of this module. Every time I change my battery or disconnect it the module brakes and the dealership knows this problem and still want to charge 1300 dollars to fix it it is a safety and hazard issue.
NHTSA complaint #11562296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Austin, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The footwell module that controls the lights, brake lights windows and dashboard is faulty on all mini cooper of this module. Every time I change my battery or disconnect it the module brakes and the dealership knows this problem and still want to charge 1300 dollars to fix it it is a safety and hazard issue.
NHTSA complaint #11562296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.