The Lemon Index
2012
20142nd generation (R56)
One of the most reliable · most complaints: electrical
Fewest complaints of its generation (2nd generation (R56)).
13 owner complaints, first 3 years 27–32 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2013 Honda Fit 1772013 Toyota Yaris 232013 Nissan Versa 49
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 12 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recall 23V337000 (electrical) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
- Does it accelerate and hold speed smoothly, with no surging or stalling?
- Mini sent dealers 157 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Discharged Battery: Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Mini's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 13 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 21K to 37K miles (34K to 60K km) on the car (12 of all 13 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
The cup holder leaks if there is any fluid spilled in it and shorts out an electrical component that controls the gear shift knob. Even the smallest amount of liquid can cause this.
2013 Mini Cooper owner · NHTSA complaint 10862049
Fixes owners look up most.
From 199 YouTube videos · 33.6M views · 2007–2013 Mini Cooper
Most-watched topics
- Timing chain & engine1.1M views
MINI R56 Timing Chain Replacement DIY (2007-2010 MINI Cooper S and 2009-2012 JCW's) N14 & N12 EngineFCP Euro · 514K views · 7 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical1.0M views
2007-2013 Mini Cooper S (R56) Battery ReplacementEricTheCarGuy · 299K views · 7 videos - Intake, EGR & engine sensors950K views
Mini Cooper R56 1.6 petrol Camshaft sensor common fault 2968 2993 2982 P0343Mustang Motors · 251K views · 7 videos - Oil leaks & gaskets760K views
Mini Cooper Oil Leak Repairs (R56/N14)EricTheCarGuy · 468K views · 4 videos
Show 4 more
- Cooling system646K views
How to check the coolant temperature - R56 Mini Cooper hidden menuProject Mini · 420K views · 4 videos - Fuel pump, filter & tank639K views
Mini Cooper S R56 High Pressure Fuel Pump Issuewelshweeks · 333K views · 3 videos - Windows, doors & mirrors434K views
2011 mini cooper door panel removalmemotlaza · 233K views · 2 videos - Oil changes & service413K views
MINI Cooper (R56, R55, R57) 2007-2011 - Tire pressure monitor reset - DIY RepairBentleyPublishers · 330K views · 2 videos
Before you buy, watch
Top 5 Problems Mini Cooper Hatchback 2007-2013 2nd Generation1A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 1.0M views
R56 Mini Cooper S - 5 ways to make it more reliableBimmer Dude (AJ) · 424K views
Mini Cooper R56 Problems to ExpectSimpleCarGuy · 168K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2013 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Mini told dealers about
Mini sent dealers 157 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Discharged Battery: Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed
- N16 and N18 Engine Oil Leak
- Battery Charge Condition Not Available in Energy Diagnosis
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 1
- Electrical · recall issued 2023
An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Cooper Clubman SW FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| Mini Cooper Convertible C FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★★ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,350–$2,800 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl.
Every Mini Cooper year. 2013 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 3 older years (2002–2004, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 19 Mini Cooper years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2013 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/mini-cooper/?y=2013" title="Mini Cooper reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="583" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/mini-cooper/2013/">Lemon Index</a> (2013 Mini Cooper reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2013 Mini Cooper reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew about a quarter as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 23; 100 is average, lower is better).
What are the most common 2013 Mini Cooper problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (23%), airbags (23%) and speed control (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2013 Mini Cooper have?
1 safety recall (latest: electrical). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Mini Cooper get?
27 to 32 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2013 Mini Cooper have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2013 Mini Cooper cost in fuel a year?
About $2,350 to $2,800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2013 Mini Cooper have?
1.6L 4-cyl.
Is there a better Mini Cooper year than the 2013?
Not nearby: the 2013 drew the fewest complaints per car sold of the Mini Cooper years within 3 model years of it.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works