2013 Mini Cooper S problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (5) · Electrical System (5) · Air Bags (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mini Cooper S model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Electrical System 2023-05-11 · campaign 23V337000 · 97,933 vehicles
Defect: 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, Uta
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.
Service bulletins (140)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2023-10-25 · M610607 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
mini electrical systems have continued to develop over the past few years. as a result, the demand on the batteries has increased. breakdowns due to an empty battery or problems in the vehicles electrical system can have various causes, most of which are not due to the battery itself. for this rea
Wheels 2021-12-01 · M360119 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
new rdc wheel electronics will be introduced with future generation mini models. the new wheel electronics are identified as huf generation 5. these new wheel electronics will need to be programmed using the new tool when replaced or when depressurized (0 psi) for more than 2 minutes.
Seats 2020-08-01 · M011116 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
oc3 seat occupancy mat - limited warranty extension to 10 years/120,000 miles: component-specific limited warranty extension for the above-referenced vehicles, mini usa, a division of bmw of north america, llc (mini usa) is extending the limited warranty for the front passenger's oc3 seat occupancy
Fuel System, Gasoline 2020-01-01 · M010419 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
class action settlement: n14 high-pressure fuel pump (hdp) service benefit class vehicles: the mini vehicle may experience a sudden engine operational failure reduced or loss of power while driving and the malfunction indicator lamp (mil) may be illuminated along with high-pressure fuel pumprelated
Equipment:electrical 2019-07-12 · M640108 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
air conditioning system leak testing. the customer complains of poor or no air conditioning cooling. after further diagnosis, the system is found to be low or empty of a refrigerant charge, but when using an electronic leak detector, no leak can be found. cause: in most cases, an electronic leak d
Structure:body:door 2019-07-12 · M510912 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service action: checking or replacing the door sill trim strips. the door sill trim strips are deformed and/or peeling up at the corners. cause: insufficient surface preparation of the door sill.
Showing the 6 most recent of 140 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-10-16 · Unknown Or Other“ i purchased a vehicle 2013 mini cooper hardtop s r56 from chevy nissan of walla walla on [xxx]. during the transaction, i was misled and not provided truthful information regarding the vehicle’s condition and terms of sale. 1. i was charged for services and items i explicitly did not want or agree to. when i first was looking at the car before p…”
2025-05-07 · Unknown Or Other“water apparantly was going thru the sunroof and clogging the drains-- no water seeped into the car or from the roof-- it went through the interior of the car nor did it ever get into the vehicle floor so no way to even be aware of car accumlating water- this interior water damage nd destroyed the electronic system of the vehicle- insured driver - m…”
2025-04-30 · Engine · 62,137 mi“the contact called on behalf of the owner of the 2013 mini cooper s. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s side window was inoperative. no warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed and determined that the body control module and the engine needed to be repla…”
2025-04-23 · Electrical System“water leakage from the sunroof drains corroded the frm module. car is not driveable as the doors will not latch, lighting issues, windows don't function etc.. there is a recall for this but not for this vin #?…”
2025-01-06 · Electrical System“the contact owns a 2013 mini cooper s. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v337000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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 co…”
2024-10-14 · Fuel/Propulsion System“yes my mini cooper 2013 i was just driving normal speed 35 to 40 miles per hour and all the sudden my engine has just quit and stopped running i was not in any danger or in a crash i was able to move my car off to the side of the road and unfortunately this was only the first time the second time was actually on the highway i was scared to death be…”
2024-10-08 · Electrical System“body control module (footwell module) controls the windows and blinkers. recall was issued may 12, 2023 have filed with nhtsa several weeks ago with no response. this part has stopped working can't put windows down or use blinkers.…”
2024-04-05 · Electrical System“the contact owns a 2013 mini cooper s. 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the c…”
2024-02-09 · Electrical System · 100,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 mini cooper s. the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there were no high beam headlights or fog lights, and the power windows were inoperable. the due for service symbol was displayed. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v337000 (electrical system) however, the part to do the recall repa…”
2023-11-06 · Air Bags · 61,180 mi“the contact owns a 2013 mini cooper s. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag and the seat belt warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was taken the bmw dealer and diagnosed with failed front driver's side door air bag sensor and a failed passenger occupancy sensor. the contact was informed that the front drive…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.