MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE · model year

2011 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE

6 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2011MINICOOPER S CONVERTIBLE carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and 5/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2011 COOPER S CONVERTIBLE is electrical system with 3 filings, followed by electronic stability control (esc) (1) and fuel/propulsion system (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2011 COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

6
Complaints
0
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

6 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated · Front: Not Rated/5 · Side: Not Rated/5 · Rollover: 5/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
AIR BAGS1

Recalls (2)

18V24800018/04/2018

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

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, Coo

12V00800011/01/2012

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

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

Recent Complaints

20230627ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2011 Mini Cooper Convertible. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the electronics operated erratically and had limited functionality. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the electronic control module inside the footwell had shorted out due to a water leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 66,000.

Mileage: 66,000

20190428AIR BAGS

AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATING FAULTY DEVICE. THE INDICATIONS STARTED TO APPEARS RANDOMLY AND MOST FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT HOWEVER TODAY IS ON ALL TIME.

20161025FireELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I DROVE 20 FEET OUT OF MY GARAGE AND SMELT A SURFER SMELL. I PUT MY CONVERTIBLE TOP DOWN, PUT THE CAR IN PARK WALKED AROUND TO SEE IF IT WAS SMOKING OR IF THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE OR MUFFLERS. WHEN I COULD NOT DETECT WHERE THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM, I PUT THE TOP BACK UP, CLOSING IT AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I LOCKED THE CAR AND WENT INTO MY GARAGE. AS I LOOKED BACK I SAW SPARKS COMING FROM THE VENT ON THE HOOD. I YELLED FOR MY HUSBAND & AS HE LOOKED FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHER I CALLED 911 & FILMED THE CAR. WITHIN 30 SECONDS THE CAR WAS ON FIRE & WITH 90 SECOND TOTALLY UP IN FLAMES. NOTHING BUT THE SHELL OF THE CAR REMAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE & FIRE MARSHAL WERE PRESENT. ARSON WAS RULED OUT. I HAD A RECALL PART INSTALLED AT THE DEALER IN 2012 FOR POTENTIAL FIRES. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY SHUT OFF. IT HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR 20 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FIRE.

Mileage: 38,000

20161025FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I DROVE 20 FEET OUT OF MY GARAGE AND SMELT A SURFER SMELL. I PUT MY CONVERTIBLE TOP DOWN, PUT THE CAR IN PARK WALKED AROUND TO SEE IF IT WAS SMOKING OR IF THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE OR MUFFLERS. WHEN I COULD NOT DETECT WHERE THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM, I PUT THE TOP BACK UP, CLOSING IT AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I LOCKED THE CAR AND WENT INTO MY GARAGE. AS I LOOKED BACK I SAW SPARKS COMING FROM THE VENT ON THE HOOD. I YELLED FOR MY HUSBAND & AS HE LOOKED FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHER I CALLED 911 & FILMED THE CAR. WITHIN 30 SECONDS THE CAR WAS ON FIRE & WITH 90 SECOND TOTALLY UP IN FLAMES. NOTHING BUT THE SHELL OF THE CAR REMAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE & FIRE MARSHAL WERE PRESENT. ARSON WAS RULED OUT. I HAD A RECALL PART INSTALLED AT THE DEALER IN 2012 FOR POTENTIAL FIRES. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY SHUT OFF. IT HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR 20 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FIRE.

Mileage: 38,000

20161025FireFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I DROVE 20 FEET OUT OF MY GARAGE AND SMELT A SURFER SMELL. I PUT MY CONVERTIBLE TOP DOWN, PUT THE CAR IN PARK WALKED AROUND TO SEE IF IT WAS SMOKING OR IF THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE OR MUFFLERS. WHEN I COULD NOT DETECT WHERE THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM, I PUT THE TOP BACK UP, CLOSING IT AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I LOCKED THE CAR AND WENT INTO MY GARAGE. AS I LOOKED BACK I SAW SPARKS COMING FROM THE VENT ON THE HOOD. I YELLED FOR MY HUSBAND & AS HE LOOKED FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHER I CALLED 911 & FILMED THE CAR. WITHIN 30 SECONDS THE CAR WAS ON FIRE & WITH 90 SECOND TOTALLY UP IN FLAMES. NOTHING BUT THE SHELL OF THE CAR REMAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE & FIRE MARSHAL WERE PRESENT. ARSON WAS RULED OUT. I HAD A RECALL PART INSTALLED AT THE DEALER IN 2012 FOR POTENTIAL FIRES. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY SHUT OFF. IT HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR 20 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FIRE.

Mileage: 38,000

20120323ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN USING THE KEY FOB. IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NO FAILURE WAS PRESENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

Mileage: 19,000

Compare 2011MINICOOPER S CONVERTIBLE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2011 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE have?
The 2011 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2011 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE?
The 2011 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of 5/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2011 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE?
Yes, the 2011 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE?
The most-complained component for the 2011 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2011 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2011 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.