2012 Mini Hardtop Mini Hardtop 2012

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2012 Mini Hardtop repairs by problem area

Engine (71%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (2%)

Brakes and Traction Control (8%)

Suspension and Steering (6%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (12%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (2%)

Other (0%)

Chart based on 52 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2012 Mini Hardtop.

2012 Mini Hardtop repair cost distribution

$2500+ (0%)

$1000 - $2499 (13%)

$500 - $999 (10%)

$100 - $499 (23%)

< $100 (55%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 40 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2012 Mini Hardtop

Engine not specified

Mini Hardtop in Pennsylvania, United States
May 2014 - Jan 2015
Oct 2014

65300 mi

US $2000
Coolant temp sensor was replaced, which resulted in a the solenoid leaking, which leaked into the computer and fried it. Second mini with this problem, near catastrophic failure. Original quote of 8k to fix. 

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2012 Mini Hardtop 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 208hp 1.6L I4 6-speed manual FWD

Mini Hardtop in Districto Federal, Mexico
Dec 2012 - Apr 2017
Jan 2013

22320 mi
gearbox 
Apr 2017

31620 mi

$140
Battery replacement as car wasnt used for quite some time. 

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2012 Mini Hardtop 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 181hp 1.6L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Mini Hardtop in Pennsylvania, United States
Nov 2014 - Jun 2015
Dec 2014

34000 mi
Coolant engine overheat light came on. Taking into dealer for warranty repair. 
Jun 2015

38000 mi
had to repair or replace the coolant tank - temp gauge came on, car overheated and stopped. 
Mini Hardtop in New Jersey, United States
Jul 2014 - Apr 2018
Aug 2014

18000 mi
Battery was dead. Dealer diagnosed and replaced battery Coolant was always disappearing. Water pump was replaced Oil leak on ground. Dealer mechanic found a faulty oil pressure distribution solenoid. 
Jan 2018

43000 mi

US $145
The dealer had previously replaced the original dead battery with a VERY small 330CCA capacity battery. When the temperature here in NJ dipped to -10F, 330CCA wasn't enough to get even a MINI engine cranking. Advance Auto Parts offered a 770CCA in a slightly larger battery that fit with no changes. Perfect result. 
Apr 2018

44000 mi

US $400
Replaced 4 rotors and 2 axle sets of OEM pads.  Replaced 2 rear anti-roll bar links and 2 rear anti-roll bar bushings. 

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2012 Mini Hardtop 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 181hp 1.6L I4 6-speed manual FWD

Mini Hardtop in North Carolina, United States
Sep 2012 - Dec 2014
Apr 2013

14000 mi
Small oil leak into sensor harness...known problem with TSB for it 
Sep 2014

36000 mi
Drivers front wheel bearing went bad...bearing replaced under warranty 
Mini Hardtop in Puebla, Mexico
Apr 2014 - Jun 2017
Jun 2014

26660 mi
Oil leak due to faulty crank shaft seal. 
Mar 2016

31000 mi
two coils were replaced and scheduled maitenance 
Jan 2017

29320 mi

$400
Crank Shaft Seal replacement due to oil leak Water pump/belt tensioner replacement due to clicking noise at cold. 
Mar 2017

33480 mi

$400
Belt tensioner failed. Making uggly noise 
Mini Hardtop in Great Britain
May 2012 - Aug 2016
Aug 2014

7000 mi
Engine oil control valve solenoid found to be leaking during routine maintenance. Slight misting of oils around unit. Booked in to be rectified (under warranty), a week later. New part fitted successfully. 
Mini Hardtop in Colorado, United States
Jan 2021 - Jul 2022
Jul 2022

106000 mi

US $850
Rotor and front brakes replaced. 
Mini Hardtop in Missouri, United States
Feb 2012 - Jul 2019
Apr 2014

48800 mi
Partial failure of high pressure fuel pump, sensor detected. Drove to dealer. 
Nov 2015

79900 mi

US $90
Thermostat and temperature sensor failure;  oil pressure solenoid minor leak. $1150 total, all but 90 covered by (purchased ) extended warranty 
Mini Hardtop in Texas, United States
Dec 2011 - Jun 2013
Jun 2013

17000 mi
Sensor was recalled so it replaced for free 

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2012 Mini Hardtop 2dr Hatch

121-horsepower 1.6L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Mini Hardtop in Illinois, United States
Apr 2015 - Dec 2019
Nov 2016

46100 mi
pads almost worn away due to caliper not releasing 
Apr 2017

54000 mi

US $675
bad ignition coil x1, replaced 4 spark plugs, valve cover gasket 
Jul 2017

59000 mi
thermostat housing replaced 
Jun 2018

75000 mi

US $300
camshaft solenoid sensor 
Mini Hardtop in Massachusetts, United States
Mar 2012 - Dec 2014
May 2013

10700 mi
Defective thermostat resulting in engine overheating and reduced performance mode. Replaced under warranty as part of a dealer campaign. 
Dec 2013

16000 mi
Snow driving triggered "slippery snow" fault with traction control system. Permanent fix required reprogramming the computer. Dealer applied all other available patches (such as ABS programming). All covered under warranty. 
Mini Hardtop in Colorado, United States
Nov 2011 - Nov 2014
Apr 2014

15000 mi
Several engine related repairs including fixing a fluid leak. 
Mini Hardtop in Nevada, United States
Mar 2012 - Feb 2015
Jul 2013

7200 mi
Engine cooling fan temp sensor replaced as per Mini recall. 
Dec 2014

14000 mi
Oil pump solenoid leaking, leak stopped by replacing the solenoid wiring 
Mini Hardtop in California, United States
May 2017 - Mar 2018
Jun 2017

125000 mi

US $80
New high beam lamps. It was found incidentally at a routine tune up. 
Oct 2017

135000 mi

US $100
door adjustment on hinges 
Mar 2018

138000 mi

US $1100
engine computer replacement 

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2012 Mini Hardtop 2dr Hatch

121-horsepower 1.6L I4 6-speed manual FWD

Mini Hardtop in West Virginia, United States
Feb 2013 - Mar 2017
Mar 2013

6000 mi
Loud "clattering" noise. Towed to dealership. Spun rod due to defective part. Waiting for new engine/will be covered under warranty. 
Aug 2016

43700 mi

US $600
ignition coils & spark plugs replaced 
Mini Hardtop in Texas, United States
Dec 2011 - May 2017
Feb 2012

2000 mi
Check engine light came on, apparently a faulty spark plug. 
Aug 2013

9000 mi
Replace faulty thermostat 
Dec 2014

13000 mi
Small oil leak near sensor harness. TSB. 
Mini Hardtop in South Carolina, United States
Dec 2011 - Dec 2012
Jan 2012

4000 mi
Faulty sensor made the car think it was over heating. 
Mini Hardtop in California, United States
Mar 2014 - Jun 2022
Jul 2015

15200 mi

US $270
Oil pump volume control solenoid 
Dec 2016

22000 mi
Replaced ignition coils (4) 
Mar 2022

36855 mi

US $1200
Thermostat housing replaced. 
Jun 2022

38149 mi

US $1500
Replaced oil filter housing gasket due to coolant leak. Exhaust gaskets also replaced due to catalytic removal. 
Mini Hardtop in Alberta, Canada
Dec 2011 - Aug 2015
Mar 2014

16740 mi
Loud rattle/clunk from rear - sway bar bushings worn out Thermostat housing leaking - replaced thermostat assembly. There is a TSB for this. Oil pump solenoid leaking, allowing oil to wick into wiring harness. Replaced solenoid and wiring harness and inspected DME for damage. This is a known issue with the N16. 
Sep 2014

21700 mi
Car would not start - battery would not hold charge. Defective battery replaced under warranty. 

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2012 Mini Hardtop 2dr Hatch

Mini Hardtop in Maryland, United States
Jul 2016 - Jun 2022
Jul 2016

62000 mi

US $725
XM would not receive signal. "Acquiring Satellites" displayed with no XM Audio. FM/AM worked fine. Replace satellite radio antenna base. 
Nov 2016

67100 mi

US $1100
gas loose tank light appeared accompanied by a check engine light. Faulty fuel tank breather and leak diagnosis pump were replaced. 
Oct 2020

125000 mi

US $425
Check engine light. Thermostat housing went bad 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Hatchbacks
See TrueDelta's information for all Mini models.

2012 Mini Hardtop Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2012 Mini Hardtop problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.