2012 MINI Cooper Countryman: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Mar 13, 2024 · Electrical · NY · fire

On the evening of [XXX] at approximately [XXX] my 2012 Mini Cooper S all 4 burst into flames. The car was parked in front of my building for 6 days (we don't use the car very much) in front of my building when the all of a sudden the head lights started flashing followed by the car cabin filling with grey smoke then followed by black smoke then there was a flash (spark?) and the entire cabin the became engulfed in flames. All of this has been captured by our building security camera. I reported the incident the following day to Mini/BMW customer care. I've been sharing emails with Thomas Lula who is investigating the "thermal event" INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 18, 2022 · Engine · CA · fire

Our Mini Cooper Countymen S was being towed behind our motorhome. I. saw smoke coming from the car I stopped and the car started to catch on fire. I got out motorhome disconnect just in time before the Mini was consumed by fire, it was a total loss. The Fire Investigator stated he believed the fire started in the right side of the engine compartment.

Filed Nov 17, 2021 · Engine · 180,000 miles · SC · fire

The contact owned a 2012 Mini Cooper S Countryman. The contact stated while she was at a standstill in traffic, she saw smoke exiting from under the hood. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the emergency lane and exit the vehicle before the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The contact did not sustain any injuries nor seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The contact spoke to the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V248000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

Filed Jun 28, 2018 · Engine · 50,000 miles · NJ · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2012 mini cooper countryman. While the vehicle was stationary, it caught fire without warning. The contact noticed smoke under the hood of the vehicle near the engine. The vehicle became engulfed in flames immediately. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. Mini of mt. Laurel (1311 nj-73, mt. Laurel, new jersey) was made aware of the fire. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v248000 (engine and engine cooling) a year and a half after the failure occurred. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

Filed May 9, 2018 · Engine · 76,000 miles · PA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 mini cooper countryman. When the vehicle was started, smoke appeared under the hood. The contact unlatched the hood and flames appeared from the engine. The contact was able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to mini of baltimore county (720 kenilworth dr., towson, md 21204, (443) 798-3461) where it was awaiting diagnostic testing and repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000. The VIN was not available. *tt no VIN number updated 8/30/18

Filed Mar 9, 2016 · Engine · 44,000 miles · GA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 mini cooper countryman. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the engine sputtered and there was smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact powered off and restarted the vehicle. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that oil was leaking. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the hose pipe and freeze plug overheated and melted which caused the engine to require to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 44,000.

Filed Nov 10, 2015 · Transmission · 78,067 miles · NY

Upon entering an exit only line on the highway at the end of a 400 mile journey, traffic backed up and came to a stop in the exit only lane. When traffic started moving again, my car which has a manual transmission would not shift from neutral into 1st gear (or any gear). I was stopped and unable to move with traffic moving 50-60 MPH behind me and next to me. Cars slammed on brakes to avoid hitting me and one almost hit me after slamming on its breaks and turning sideways. It was one of the most terrifying experiences I have ever encountered. A state police office pulled up behind me after about 5-10 minutes and was able to push me to the breakdown lane. There was a terrible burning smell and considerable smoke from under the car which indicated a catastrophic failure of the clutch. The car was towed to an auto repair shop where I later learned the clutch material had disintegrated entirely and the flywheel was crazed and burned from the extreme heat. Both the clutch and flywheel had to be replaced. The cost to repair the car was over $4000. The car had 78,067 miles on it and prior to the catastrophic failure of the clutch there were only 2 indications of a potential clutch problem when the tachometer fluttered when shifting into hear at about 300 miles prior to the incident and then about 25 miles prior to the incident, indicating to me that the clutch was starting to slip. Other than that, there were no warning lights or other indications of a problem. The car is routinely serviced by the dealer and whenever there is any indication of a problem. I do not drive cars hard. This car is still on its first set of brakes and only its second set of tires. I have driven manual shift cars for many years and know the symptoms of a failing clutch. I consider the near catastrophe that I experienced the result of a major defect in either the clutch or the warning mechanism.

Filed Sep 14, 2014 · Body, Engine · 30,000 miles · KY · fire

Our 2012 mini cooper countryman was parked in parking garage. Within minutes of shutting it off the engine caught on fire which spread quickly. The car was completely destroyed. Other cars next to it were affected and the floor of the parking garage was closed due to damages. This is very serious and dangerous.

Filed Aug 1, 2012 · Airbags, Electrical · 400 miles · NJ · crash · fire

My mini was stopped at a traffic light behind a toyota 4 runner when I was struck from the back by a careless driver in a midsize sedan who had failed to see the cars in front of her stopped at a red light. The damage done to both the car that struck mine from behind as well as the damage done to the 4 runner were minimal by comparison. The mini incurred irreparable damage to the front end of the car. My concern is that the airbags never deployed and the driver of the 4 runner pulled me out of the car due to fire he saw coming from under the engine of the mini, before long the whole front end was engulfed in flames. The car was declared a total loss. Should the vehicle have caught on fire? Shouldn't the airbags have deployed with the gravity of the damage?