2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN Engine Problems

I purchased a 2012 MINI Cooper Countryman from LA Motorsports (703 1st Ave N, Windom, MN 56101) in November 2024. Prior to purchase, I specifically asked whether any open recalls remained, and the dealership assured me all had been completed. After the vehicle failed within 60 days, a certified MINI technician inspected it and confirmed the presence of stop leak and catastrophic internal engine damage. The technician also confirmed that the auxiliary water pump—subject to NHTSA Recall 18V-248, a federal Stop-Sale recall—was still actively leaking at the time of inspection, and that the recall was still open at the time of sale. This indicates the dealer sold the vehicle without completing the required recall, which violates federal law (49 U.S.C. § 30120(i); 49 C.F.R. § 573.11). I am reporting this as a violation of federal safety standards and consumer protection. I have evidence available, including a video inspection and technician report, and I am willing to provide those upon request.

Oil keeps leaking back into motor and many car repair companies keep saying this is common and they won’t repair it because it’s not worth it also on another side the hood latch keeps breaking

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS AND COIL PACKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,421.

Mileage: 118,421

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UP A MOUNTAIN AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AN ENGINE PROBLEM MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED SOON AFTER RESTART. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS A WARRANTY ON HER VEHICLE FOR THE HIGH-PRESSURE PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MINI OF ONTARIO (1251 AUTO CENTER DR, ONTARIO, CA 91761) WHERE THEY INFORMED HER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE VALVE COVER, OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET O RING, FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL, OIL PUMP SOLENOID VALVE, WATER PUMP PULLEY DRIVE WHEEL, AND WATER PUMP ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MINI OF ARLINGTON (2001 N COLLINS ST, ARLINGTON, TX 76011) FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V248000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

THE FIRST IMAGE SHOWS A QUOTE FOR WORK THAT EDISON MINI STATED MY CAR NEEDS. THE SECOND IMAGE IS A SCREENSHOT I SAVED FROM THE INTERNET WHEN I RESEARCHED IF THE ISSUE WITH THE THE WATER PUMP IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR MY YEAR AND MAKE OF MY CAR. IS THERE A WAY WHERE YOU CAN HELP ME TO GET THIS WATER PUMP ISSUE CORRECTED BY MINI, AT THEIR EXPENSE? MY CAR IS A 2012, 8 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE A MERE 77,000 MILES ON IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS, THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND BLACK SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT AND A FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND FACILITY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. *LN*JB*PM*JB

Mileage: 84,000

MY 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN WITH 83033 MILES IS REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING, THE RECALLED WATER PUMP WAS INSTALLED BY THE DEALER ON 10/31/2018, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WILL COST YOU $1800 TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING, I HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO DRIVE MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WILL COST ME $1800. PRE THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX. THERE IS NOT ANY PARTS IN THE UNITED STATES CURRENTLY TO FIX THIS CAR. I HAVE INCLUDED PHOTOS OF THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING THAT WAS REMOVED FROM MY CAR AND BY PAPER WORK FROM THE DEALER. IT LOOK LIKE IT WAS CHIP WHEN THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED AND NOT CRACKED. I HAVE ORDER TWO THERMOSTAT AND THEY DO NOT FIX. I AM STILL PAYING FOR THIS CAR THOUGH MINI FINANICEL, MAYBE IT TIME TO HAVE THIS CAR RETURN BACK TO THEM. I CANNOT GET THE CORRECT THERMOSTAT TO GET IT FIX. DO NOT WANT TO KEEP PAYING FOR A CAR I CANNOT DRIVE. SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE....

OIL FILTER HOUSING AND/OR OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKETS LEAKING DIRECTLY ON EXHAUST DOWNPIPE, AND IN MY OPINION IS A FIRE HAZARD. THE OIL FLLTER HOUSING IS ONLY HELD ON BY A FEW BOLTS, AND ENGINE VIBRATION AND HEAT CAUSE LEAKING. THIS IS A HORRIBLE DESIGN, AND A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 1.6 ENGINE. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX, AND AGAIN IN MY OPINION, THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. MY MINI ONLY HAS 106K MILES, AND I HAVE NOT YET FIXED IT DUE TO THE EXPENSE. WITH THE OIL DRIPPING DIRECTLY ON THE EXHAUST, THE OIL BURNS AND SMOKES AND IS A FIRE HAZARD. I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON COMPLAINT FOR THOUSANDS OF MINI OWNERS.

WATER PUMP FAILED AT 84,000 MILES CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL ON THE HIGHWAY.

MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR SLOWED TO 19 MPH, THEN DIED. I WILL NEED A NEW TIMING CHAIN, ENGINE, AND MORE. THIS CAR IS NEW TO ME FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP.

Mileage: 95,000

TURBO COOLANT PUMP - LAST YEAR MY CAR SMELLED LIKE BURNT RUBBER AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPES. THE SMOKE WAS SO BAD, THE CAR LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. I TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP TO GET IT FIXED AND THE SMOKE STOPPED. ABOUT 9 MONTHS LATER, I WAS PARKED WITH THE CAR ON. THE RUBBER SMELL AND SMOKE APPEARED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID IT WAS THE COOLANT PUMP FOR THE TURBO. HE SAID THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR IT. I LOOKED UP THE RECALL, BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. MY CAR IS HAVING THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND MINI WILL NOT FIX IT. IT COSTS $3300 FOR ME TO FIX, WHEN CLEARLY, IT IS A MINI MANUFACTURING PROBLEM.

Mileage: 86,000