Most common 2010 Mini Cooper S problems
Share of the 69 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mini Cooper S complaints by model year
Best Cooper S years: 2017, 2016, 2021. Years to avoid: 2005, 2007, 2004, 2006, 2003. Compare all years →
2010 Mini Cooper S recalls (4)
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,…
Remedy: 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.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
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…
Remedy: 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.
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, 2006, through January 18,…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump free of charge. The safety recall beganduring February 2012. Owners May contact BMW at 1-866-275-6464.
Equipment › Other › Labels
BMW is recalling certain model year 2010 Mini cooper and cooper s vehicles for failing comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the affected vehicles were equipped with 17 inch wheels, but their label states that they were equipped with 16 inch wheels.
Remedy: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The recall began on March 4, 2010. Owners May contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2010 Mini Cooper S:
Engine compartment fire
In a January 10, 2012 letter to NHTSA, BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) identifying a defect in the electric auxiliary water pump in approximately 88,911 model year (MY) 2007-2011 Mini Cooper vehicles manufactured from November 14, 2006 through January 18, 2011 (Recall 12V-008).According to BMW, the auxiliary water pump on vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder turbocharged…
What 2010 Mini Cooper S owners say
Engine & cooling all 47 →
The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper s. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle overheated and the temperature gauge warning light illuminated. In addition, smoke and a burning oil odor emitted from under the hood. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. After the vehicle was serviced, the turn signals and windows failed to operate. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but the diagnosis was unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,568.
Air bags
The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper Convertible. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V205000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic and it was determined that the front passenger occupant detection sensor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.
The passenger side air bag light indicated the air bag was not engaged. The passenger seat started getting very hot (this model does not have heated seats). We removed the seat from the vehicle and innvestigated. We found that the air bag seat mat was overheating. The circuit was melted from the heat. If we had not removed the seat from the car it would have caught fire. The vehicle was parked in the garage at the time. However, the car was driven earlier in the day and the light was on then to indicate the passenger air bag was not on. There are no recalls for this 2010 model for this problem. However, there have been numerous complaints from other owners on the web. This does not appear to be an isolated incident. Fixing the problem is expensive too.
Transmission & drivetrain
Vehicle was in motion and my wife heard a noise- chose to ignore noise. After researching the problem I discovered the timing chain could catastrophically fail leaving my wife on mountain roads with no power and loss of power steering . Although BMW has been aware of this problem for years they have bob and weaved fixing only those they have been forced to, leaving others ,with the exact same problem the owners responsibility.. The dealer charged us $ 1300 to repair the vehicle. Our particular car supposedly was just outside the production run cutoff for free repair. This is a safety issue and all cars with this potential problem should be recalled. Additionally, customers should not have to play "what is the noise detective " in order to discover a life threatening defect. …
Timing chain tensioner failed and stretched timing chain now the death rattle and BMW Mini Cooper knows 2010 were affected there is lots of data online for 2010 Mini Cooper s timing chain and tensioner failing at 20K to 50K mile range. We have 42K miles and in range of class action that was filed. They won't fix issue and want 2500. I'm one of many with 2010 issues. They say it's upgraded but failed at 40K same as others. [redacted] or [redacted].
2010 Mini Cooper S engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | FWD | 26 / 34 / 29 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 24 / 32 / 27 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Mini Cooper S a good car?
Based on 69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Cooper S rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Cooper S at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 Mini Cooper S?
The engine & cooling — 47 complaints, 68% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the air bags (8) and transmission & drivetrain (6).
How many recalls does the 2010 Mini Cooper S have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2010 Mini Cooper S, the most recent from May 11, 2023 (electrical system). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mini Cooper S?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2016 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005, 2007, 2004, 2006 and 2003. See the full Mini Cooper S years comparison.
At what mileage do 2010 Mini Cooper S problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 57,000 miles; 39% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.