2010 MINI Cooper Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Cooper years
- Far more complaints than other years 9th of 26 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 92 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 MINI Cooper. That ranks 9th out of 26 Cooper model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (32 complaints, 35%), typically at around 61,000 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 7 fires, 9 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 92owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2010 MINI Cooper problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 32 | 35% | 61,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 29 | 32% | 63,458 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 21 | 23% | 68,750 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 | 12% | 65,915 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 8 | 9% | 12,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 8 | 9% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 5% | 72,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 5 | 5% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 4% | 44,615 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 3% | 67,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 2% | 31,750 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | 53,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | 16,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | 16,347 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2010 MINI Cooper recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system
Problem: 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, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. The electronic control module in the driver's side footwell area may short-circuit, due to corrosion from water and road salt.
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.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: 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. Also the tire pressure stated on the label for the cooper s is incorrect.
Risk: Erroneous tire information could lead to improper tire fitment and inflation which could affect the durability of the tire and the stability of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The dealer refused to perform the required FRM recall inspection and denied the recall without providing any of the federally required documentation. I was forced to pay outâofâpocket for the FRM module replacement even though my VIN is listed under the safety recall. MINI of Murray stated my…
The vehicle is experiencing repeated failure of the Footwell module (FRM), a known defect acknowledged by MINI/BMW. During the two years I have owned the vehicle, the FRM has required four separate reflashes due to recurring malfunctions. The failure causes loss of proper power window operation…
Engine issues Engine leaks over heating seal gasket Timing bell Engine missed firing
Passenger Airbag sensor is off even when passenger is in the seat and airbag should be on.
On Thursday I was driving my 2010 Mini Cooper S with 75,000 miles on it and there was a total and sudden power outage on the high way. I was able to get to the breakdown lane and had it towed. My mini certified garage ran the computer on it and the car started right up. It was due for an inspection…
Other MINI Cooper years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Cooper | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 Cooper | 1 | 3 |
| 2024 Cooper | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 Cooper | 7 | 0 |
| 2022 Cooper | 6 | 0 |
| 2021 Cooper | 7 | 2 |
| 2020 Cooper | 7 | 2 |
| 2019 Cooper | 12 | 2 |
| 2018 Cooper | 8 | 0 |
| 2017 Cooper | 28 | 3 |
| 2016 Cooper | 28 | 1 |
| 2015 Cooper | 56 | 6 |
| 2014 Cooper | 34 | 7 |
| 2013 Cooper | 47 | 1 |
| 2012 Cooper | 66 | 1 |
| 2011 Cooper | 83 | 1 |
| 2010 | 92 | 2 |
| 2009 Cooper | 151 | 1 |
| 2008 Cooper | 116 | 1 |
| 2007 Cooper | 117 | 1 |
| 2006 Cooper | 200 | 1 |
| 2005 Cooper | 372 | 2 |
| 2004 Cooper | 282 | 2 |
| 2003 Cooper | 320 | 2 |
| 2002 Cooper | 187 | 3 |
| 2001 Cooper | 6 | 0 |
See all MINI Cooper problems by year, every MINI model, or the MINI VIN decoder.
Similar MINI models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2010 MINI Cooper?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, air bags problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 32 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2010 MINI Cooper?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2010 MINI Cooper a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Cooper model years, the 2010 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.