Model year guide

2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 3 on record.

2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman — representative photo
Representative photo

2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints25
Combined28–30 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman recalls 1

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger NHTSA Campaign #18V248000 · 18/04/2018

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 Roadst…

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 …

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Gasoline
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman MPG & running costs

Combined28–30 mpg
City26 mpg
Highway34 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,850
EPA size classSubcompact Cars
TransmissionAutomatic (S6) or Manual 6-spd
Forced inductionTurbocharged
Passenger volume80 cu ft
Cargo volume17 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$2,250 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,250
Fuel only$14,250
Per mile$0.19

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 163

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 163.

While performing a 12-Volt battery jump start, disconnect, or replacement, vehicle test, and/or programming procedure- the MINI Footwell Module (FRM) may become unresponsive. As a result, one or more of the following vehicle electric system-related issues may…

Bulletin M610226 · Electrical System · Apr 2026

Customer complains of a musty odor or damp front footwell carpet.

Bulletin M640116 · Structure · Jan 2024

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 d…

Bulletin M610607 · Electrical System · Oct 2023

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)…

Bulletin M360119 · Equipment, Electrical System, Wheels · Dec 2021

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 t…

Bulletin M011116 · Seats · Aug 2020

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 al…

Bulletin M010419 · Electrical System, Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine · Jan 2020

"Service Action: Retrofit of the Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor. Internal corrosion could form in the engine coolant temperature sensor. This corrosion leads to internal bridging of the contacts, which can cause an inaccurate engine temperature reading. Thi…

Bulletin M170912 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jul 2019

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. CAUS…

Bulletin M640108 · Equipment · Jul 2019

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.

Bulletin M510912 · Structure, Equipment Adaptive/mobility, Equipment · Jul 2019

N18 THERMOSTAT WITH THERMOSTAT HOUSING: LIMITED WARRANTYEXTENSION TO 10 YEARS/ This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI M01 02 18 dated May 2018.

Bulletin M010218 · Equipment · Apr 2019

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the COOPER S CLUBMAN FWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 1

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Electrical

On certain vehicles, the auxiliary water pump (which cools the turbocharger after the engine is turned OFF) can overheat and fail. This could result in a vehicle fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the auxiliary water pump. Note: Owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors until the remedy is applied. Additional note: This is an e…

Transport Canada #2018195 · Apr 2018

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman vehicles on record

Other Mini Cooper S Clubman model years

2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman?

Across all 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, engine, fuel/propulsion system.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman get?

The 2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman has U.S. EPA estimates of 28–30 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.