RoadVitals

2009 MINI Cooper S Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
119
Latest Jun 17, 2024
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
6
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jun 9, 2010

What this page shows

Our database holds 119 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 MINI Cooper S. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 119 · page 1 of 5

Electrical
Filed Jun 17, 2024

The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11594759
Incident
May 12, 2023
Electrical
Filed Jan 24, 2024

The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11567466
Incident
May 12, 2023
Electrical
Filed Jan 2, 2024

The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the interior lights and exterior lights were turning bright and dim intermittently. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11563000
Incident
Dec 19, 2023
Mileage
87,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 14, 2023

The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11560187
Incident
Dec 14, 2023
Electrical
Filed Dec 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11557932
Incident
May 12, 2023
Electrical
Filed Dec 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11557894
Incident
Dec 1, 2023
Electrical
Filed Aug 7, 2023

The contact's wife owns a 2009 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that the turn lights and power windows failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that the red check vehicle warning light was flashing on the instrument panel. The contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) which he linked to the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed him that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

NHTSA ID
11536862
Incident
Jan 1, 2023
Mileage
59,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 16, 2021

The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that an airbag warning light would intermittently flash on the instrument panel. The contact also stated that the passenger’s side airbag would remain off with or without a passenger seated in the passenger’s side seat. The dealer had been notified of the failure and informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact was also informed that there was a 10-year warranty placed on the vehicle for the airbag; however, the 10-year warranty had expired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

NHTSA ID
11440703
Incident
May 1, 2021
Mileage
79,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 17, 2020

THERE IS A COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE IN MY CAR THAT HAS CAUSED CYLINDER HEAD ISSUES AND HEAD GASKET ISSUES. EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS A 2009, IT ONLY HAS ABOUT 53,000 MILES. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2019 AND IN JANUARY 2020 THE CAR OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING AND THEN I NOTICED THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE CAR. I REPLACED THE HOSE AND THERMOSTAT. NOW IN AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 THE CAR OVERHEATED AGAIN AND THERE WAS ALSO LEAKING FROM THE COOLANT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE NEEDS MAJOR REPAIR WORK. I RECENTLY NOTICED RECALLS ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, HOWEVER BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS CAR, I'M THINKING THIS MAY STILL BE AN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. ADDITIONALLY, I REVIEWED THE CARFAX REPORT FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNERS AND THERE WAS NO INFORMATION ABOUT ANY RESOLVED RECALLS. HOWEVER, I SPOKE WITH THE BMW DEALERSHIP THAT THE CAR HAD WORK DONE AT FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND THEY SAID THE RECALLS IN 2012 (AUXILIARY COOLANT PUMP) AND 2015 (HEAT SHIELD TURBO CHARGER) WERE RESOLVED. I ALSO CONFIRMED THIS WITH ANOTHER MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP. BASED ON THE CARFAX REPORT, THESE RECALLS MAY HAVE NEVER BEEN RESOLVED.

NHTSA ID
11355550
Incident
Jan 17, 2020
Mileage
50,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 5, 2020

THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILED AND CAUSED THE CIRCUIT BOARD TO OVERHEAT. IF THE CIRCUIT BOARD WERE TO OVERHEAT, IT CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A FIRE. OTHER OBSERVATION: MISFIRE PRESENT AT SEVERAL CYLINDERS. INTAKE PORTS CARBONIZED.

NHTSA ID
11320262
Incident
Feb 1, 2020
Electrical
Filed Jan 17, 2020

MY MINI IS ONLY AT 133,XXX MILES. AROUND 130,XXX MILES IT STARTED, I GOT OFF WORK AND WAS GOING TO HEAD HOME. I TRIED STARTING IT, IT JUST CRANKED UNTIL I PRESSED THE STOP BUTTON. ABOUT 4 DIFFERENT SERVICE ICONS CAME ACROSS THE SCREEN ( RED CAR SAYING SERVICE, CAR UP ON A LIFT, STEERING WHEEL WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT, AND A GEAR COG WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT). DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY FOR 5 MINUTES, HOOKED IT BACK UP AND IT WORKED FINE, OR SO I THOUGHT. IT NOW RUNS ROUGH, AND I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY ABOUT EVERY 5TH-6TH TIME I TRY TO GO ANYWHERE BECAUSE IT WILL JUST DO AS BEFORE AND JUST CRANK. HAVE TAKEN IT TO 3 DIFFERENT SHOPS, ALL SAYING THE ECU IS BAD. I CAN TRY TO HAVE IT REPROGRAMMED FOR $500-$800, HOWEVER IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPROGRAM IT, I AM LEFT WITH THE ONLY OPTION OF SPENDING $1,000 FOR A NEE BLANK ECU FROM MINI, WHICH THEN HAS TO BE PROGRAMMED BY MINI FOR ADDITIONAL $$.

NHTSA ID
11300045
Incident
Oct 9, 2019
Mileage
129,987 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Jan 7, 2020

WAS PARKED AND WENT TO START IT AND NO WARNING CHIMES SEAT BELT SEAT RADIO AIR BAGS

NHTSA ID
11297681
Incident
Dec 25, 1999
Mileage
12,500 mi
Filed Oct 29, 2019

MY RADIO AND SOUND SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. SO MY SAFETY NOISES LIKE MY SEATBELT AND ANY PROBLEMS THAT MAY ARISE DO NOT GIVE ANY SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING FINE IN THE MORNING AND THEN IN THE AFTERNOON IT STOPPED WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN. AND IT WAS OFF AND STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID
11276996
Incident
Oct 27, 2019
Mileage
120,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 16, 2019

DAILY ON COLD STARTS, THE CAR MISFIRES AND STALLS 2-20 TIMES BEFORE IT STARTS. THIS HAS JUST STARTED HAPPENING IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS.

NHTSA ID
11269051
Incident
Jul 22, 2019
Mileage
119,580 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 8, 2019

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR. LIGHT DOES NOT GO OFF. DEALER ADVISES THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THEY EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT FOR 10 YRS BUT DID NOT RECALL EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW IT'S A DEFECT. WE PURCHASED OUR 2009 MINI IN OCT 2008 SO NOT COVERED BY THEIR EXTENSION. SHOULDN'T IT BE SINCE THEY ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM?

NHTSA ID
11242477
Incident
Feb 2, 2019
Mileage
35,000 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 18, 2019

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT 55-60 MPH. VEHICLE CUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START OR TURNOVER. 15 MINUTES OF REST AND CAR WAS STARTED AND RPMS WERE FLUTTERING. MINI COOPER OF GRAND RAPIDS STATED THE TIMING CHAIN WAS "MOST LIKELY" "OUT". THEY ALSO STATED NO GOODWILL ASSISTANCE COULD BE PROVIDED WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THE WINDOW, FOR A PREVIOUS LAWSUIT INVOLVING THEE 2009 MINI COOPER S, WAS CLOSED AND THE DEFECTIVE TENSIONER AND GUIDE RAILS (TO INCLUDE ENGINE DESIGN) WERE STILL IN MY MINI COOPER. CAR HAS STARTED ONCE SINCE BUT WILL NOT STAY RUNNING. OTHER CASES OF FUEL PUMPS FAILING ON SAID MODEL WERE ACKNOWLEDGED BUT "NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED" SAID MINI, THUS NOT WARRANTING ANY REPAIR OR CONCERN FOR MY FAILED MINI. REPAIR ESTIMATE WAS 3,985$. AFTER MENTIONING THE PREVIOUS LAWSUIT DURING 2015, A 'RANDOM' DISCOUNT WAS ANNOUNCED OF 10-15% TO BRING SAID TOTAL TO EST. 2,900$. MY 2009 MINI COOPER S HAS HAD IDLE AND RPM ISSUES/FLUCTUATIONS FOR A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER PREVIOUS OWNER HAD JUST REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY IN JANUARY OF 2019 WITH GENUINE MINI REPLACEMENT PARTS (FACTORY PARTS CAUSING THE SAME FACTORY DEFECT)

NHTSA ID
11221055
Incident
Jun 5, 2019
Mileage
95,200 mi
Airbags
Filed May 7, 2019

AT 40K MILES ON A 2009 MINI COOPER S (R56); SRS AIRBAG AND SEATBELT WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR ON LCD SCREEN / SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND ROOF; LCD WARNING READS "FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER..." WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AT STARTUP AND REMAIN PERMANENTLY ON WHILE AT IDLE AND DURING DRIVE, AS WELL AS ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS AND CONDITIONS UNTIL SHUT OFF. TECHNICIAN SCANNED AND RETRIEVED FAULT CODE 93C3 ("SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR, PASSENGER") AND ESTIMATED A COST OF $1,950 TO REPLACE ENTIRE SEAT CUSHION, BY A SPECIAL ORDER FROM THE FACTORY, WHICH HAS THE OCCUPANCY DETECTOR BUILT INTO THE LINING. THE COMPONENT WAS NOT REPLACED. UPON INVESTIGATION ONLINE, THERE EXIST THOUSANDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS TO THE NHTSA FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE FOR THIS CHASIS MODEL; IT IS EVIDENT THAT THIS IS A FUALTY SAFETY COMPONENT THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I URGE THE NHTSA TO PRESS EVEN HARDER ON THIS MATTER BEFORE ANY SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS OCCUR AS A RESULT OF EITHER NEGLIGENCE ON THE MANUFACTURER'S BEHALF, OR FOR A LACK OF RESPONSE BY THE NHTSA, OR WORSE: BOTH. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY RISK, IT IS A SERIOUS LIABILITY CONCERN, AND I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS. I HOPE TO BE CONTACTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO DISCUSS FURTHER.

NHTSA ID
11206143
Incident
Apr 26, 2019
Mileage
40,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 19, 2018

WHILE DRIVING A 2009 MINI COOPER S AT OVER 35 MILES PER HOUR THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RESTART. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE AND MINI REFUSED TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH AND REPLACE THE PRODUCT DESPITE ISSUING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THAT SPECIFIC COMPONENT IN A SAFETY BULLETIN.

NHTSA ID
11162452
Incident
Dec 18, 2018
Mileage
147,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 10, 2018

AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILURE. SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER IDENTICAL CARS WITH A RECALL BUT THIS ONE IS NOT LISTED. RECALL NUMBER FOR THIS IS 18V248000. THE SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING WITH MY CAR BUT MINI SAYS IT ISN'T LISTED.

NHTSA ID
11128402
Incident
Sep 10, 2018
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 20, 2018

MY 2009 MINI COOPER S MADE RATTLE NOISE AND THE WHOLE TIMING CHAIN GOT REPLACED PLUS THE THERMOSTAT HOUSE AND WATER PUMP! THE ENGINE LIGHT STILL KEEPS ON AFTER TROUBLE-SHOOTING BY MY MECHANICS, WHICH MIGHT BE THE COMPUTER ISSUE WHICH HAS TO BE FIGURED OUT SOON! THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE SHOULD BE UNDER FULLY-COVERED BY MANUFACTURER SINCE TOO MANY MINI COOPER OWNER HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND PAID THOUSAND OF DOLLARS TO FIX IT! MY MINI IS ONLY ABOUT 55K MILES AND ALREADY HAS TIMING CHAIN ISSUE!

NHTSA ID
11112588
Incident
May 29, 2018
Mileage
55,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 16, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT PERMANENTLY ON. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AND SAY IT WILL BE $1400 TO REPLACE.

NHTSA ID
11111783
Incident
May 15, 2018
Mileage
96,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 16, 2017

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR GAVE ME A WARNING THAT MY ENGINE TEMP WAS WAY TO HIGH. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A GOOD PLACE TO STOP AND CHECK OUT WHAY WAS GONG ON. I OPEN THE HOOD, THE ENGINE IS SMOKING AND THE COOLANT RESERVOIR IS NEAT EMPTY. I LOOK AND SEE A POOL OF ANTIFREEZE COMING FROM THE THERMOSTAT. THIS IS THE THIRD THERMOSTAT I HAVE INSTALLED ON THIS CAR AND THE SECOND FAULTY ONE I HAVE HAD IN 3 MONTHS. THIS IS ALSO THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD TO STOP ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO A BADLY LEAKING THERMOSTAT.

NHTSA ID
11055075
Incident
Dec 15, 2017
Mileage
77,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Nov 14, 2017

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAPPEND THE CAR STARTED TO ACELERATE BY ITS SELF WHEN STOPPED AND THE BRAKES COULDN'T HOLD THE CAR BACK, I THEN PUT THE CAR INTO NEWTRAL, THEN INTO PARK TAPPED THE GAS AND THE CAR ACTED NORMAL. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN AND JUST STARTED TO GO WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL . THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPEND WAS A YEAR AGO .I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE BUT NOW IT HAPPEND AGAIN, I AM A VERY GOOD DRIVER BUT AFTER THIS HAPPEND AGAIN I THINK I MIGHT JUST GET RID IF THIS CAR ...IT REMINDED ME OF THE MOVIE CHRITINE WHEN THE CAR HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WITH A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, THE WEATHER WAS 45 DEGREES AND WAS DRIVING FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES ALREADY WHEN IT HAPPEND

NHTSA ID
11045943
Incident
Nov 14, 2017
Mileage
181,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 4, 2017

I OWN A 2009 MINI COOPER AND THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT WARNING LIGHTS COME ON WHENEVER I GET IN THE CAR. THE LIGHT CAME ON RECENTLY WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND IT NOW OCCURS EVERY TIME I TURN THE MOTOR ON. I'VE BEEN ONLINE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS MAY MEAN THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM FACING A NUMBER OF MINI COOPER OWNERS AND BMW HAS NOT RESOLVED THIS PROBLEM AFTER MANY COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ID
11031812
Incident
Oct 4, 2017
Mileage
65,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 22, 2017

CAR WENT INTO LIMP GEAR MODE ON FREEWAY, HIGH RPM AT 40 MPH. VEHICLE SHIPPED TO MINI DEALER 05/09/17 SAYING THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION ERROR CODE. DEALER SAID THEY TESTED VEHICLE AND IT WASN'T THE TRANSMISSION IT NEEDED A WATER PUMP AND CYLINDER NEED VALVE COVER. 67,117 MILES ON ODOMETER. ALSO FRONT CV AXLE BOOT LEAKING. HAD REPAIRS DONE ($1692.58) AFTER DISCOUNT. AT TIME OF PICKUP, DEALER ASKED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE A FEW MORE DAYS TO DOUBLE CHECK THE TRANSMISSION. A FEW DAYS LATER THEY SAY YES THERE IS A TRANSMISSION ERROR WITH THE CAR GOING AT HIGHER HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND IT WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION! COST ($9000) I DID NOT HAVE THIS DONE.THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE! THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN BY MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO AND FROM SCHOOL!

NHTSA ID
10990880
Incident
Apr 24, 2017
Mileage
67,117 mi

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