2009 MINI Cooper S Engine Problems

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW MINI COOPER S IN 2009 W/ STANDARD 3 YEARS OF FACTORY MAINTENANCE AND I LATER ADDED ON AN EXTENDED WARRANTY A FEW YEARS LATER. 2014 I ENTERED INTO A 3 YEAR LEASE ON A BMW. ASIDE FROM MAINTENANCE, THE MINI WAS MOSTLY GARAGED EXCEPT FOR MAINTENANCE UNTIL TH AFTER A MONTH OF DRIVING IT, I HEARD A TICKING SOUND THAT MADE ME THINK IT NEEDED OIL ADDED, DESPITE HAVING ONE ABOUT 2 MONTHS PRIOR. I ADDED THE MINI SYNTHETIC OIL TO THE CAR AND THE TICKING SOUND STOPPED FOR A WEEK OR TWO. THEN IT STARTED RATTLING AND SHAKING SEVERELY WHEN DRIVING LOW SPEEDS OR AT AN IDLE. I CHECKED THE ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO CHECK OIL LEVELS AND THE GENERAL HEALTH OF THE CAR. NO ISSUES CAME UP BUT I STOPPED DRIVING IT BECAUSE I SAW THE OIL LIGHT COME ON, AND I KNOW THAT COULDN'T BE GOOD, ESPECIALLY SINCE OIL WAS ADDED BETWEEN CHANGES. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MINI MECHANIC, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THERE WERE HOLES IN THE TURBO LINE AND SOME VARIOUS OIL LEAKS. THEIR ESTIMATE WAS ROUGHLY $2500 TO MAKE THE CAR DRIVABLE AGAIN. SPOKE TO MINI CORPORATE, URGED ME TO TAKE IT TO MINI DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS SO CORPORATE TO SEE WHAT HELP THEY'D OFFER ME ON THESE ISSUES BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE TIMING CHAIN BELT WAS AN ISSUE AND THEY KNEW THE CAR BURNS THROUGH OIL 50% FASTER THAN THEIR ELECTRONIC SYSTEM AND OWNERS MANUAL SAYS. THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS IN 2008 AND IT AFFECTED SEVERAL MINI COOPERS TO THE EXTENT OF BLOWING OUT THEIR ENTIRE ENGINE. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED BECAUSE MINI FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL, WARN BUYERS, OR NOTIFY CURRENT ONES. THEY EXTENDED THE TIMING CHAIN BELT COVERAGE TO 7 YEARS OR 80K AFTER THE SUIT. MY CAR HAS 73K BUT IT'S 7 YEARS GOING ON 8. THE DEALER CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS BUT MINI WON'T OFFER ANY HELP ON THE 3-4K REPAIRS. IF THIS HAPPENED 9 MONTHS AGO, THEY WOULD COVER IT.

NHTSA ID

10990672

Incident

May 15, 2017

Mileage

73,000 mi

TURBO LEAKING OIL - GASKETS - MAJOR COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING THEY NEED TO REVIEW FOR DESIGN ERROR.

NHTSA ID

10981063

Incident

Apr 22, 2017

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER BROKE CAUSING TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK AND RUINING VALVE TRAIN AND PISTONS. SINCE IT IS AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE. COMPLETE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED, WITH ONLY 25,000 ORGINIAL MILES ON VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10957892

Incident

Jun 6, 2016

Mileage

25,000 mi

TIMING CHAIN BROKE LEADING TO VEHICLE COMING TO A SUDDEN STOP. HAD THIS HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, IT COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING. BMW REFUSES TO ASSIST.

NHTSA ID

10936843

Incident

Dec 6, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OR WHILE PARKED, THE COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LEAK PROFUSELY. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V008000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,178.

NHTSA ID

10861480

Incident

Sep 7, 2015

Mileage

87,178 mi

I HAVE A MINI COOPER S 2009, WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES IN IT ,AND ALREADY ITS FAILING THE GUIDE AND SUPPORT RAIL THE HOLDS THE TIMING CHAIN, THOSE SUPPORTS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC WHICH I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF METAL INSTEAD,WHEN THE SUPPORT GUIDES BREAKS THE CHAIN COMES OUT OF PLACE CRASHING THE ENGINE, WELL THE IS ECSACTLY WHAT HAPPEN TO ME , WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY, I HAD TO STOP AND GET MY CAR TOWED, BUT LUCKY ME I WASN'T IN THE MIDDLE OF FREWAY WHICH IT COULD CAUSE A BIG ACCIDENT, MAYBE DEATH. MOST OF CAR MAKERS LIKE HONDA HAS A MILES LIMIT FOR TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT, MINI COOPER S DONT, ITS BASE ON HOW MUCH YOU DRIVE IT ,THATS WHAT DEALER SAID. BOTTON LINE MINI USA SHOULD REPLACE THOSE PLASTIC PARTS FOR SOMETHING MORE DURABLE SPECIALLY IF ITS GOING TO MAKE YOUR CAR STOP ALL OF OF SUDDEN.

NHTSA ID

10845645

Incident

Mar 8, 2016

Mileage

60 mi

AT 30000 MILES THE TIMING CHAIN WAS REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL. CAR RATTLED FOR A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO REPLACEMEN. AT 55OOO MILE MY CAR ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP IT IN TO WORK ABOUT ANOTHER 5 MILES. MY HUSBAND DROVE IT TO MINI DEALERSHIP ANOTHER 10 MILES AWAY AND THEY STATED THAT IT BLEW A VALVE OR A PISTON QUOTING HIM A HEAD REPLACEMENT OF $5000 OR REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE FOR $10000. I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW AND I HAVE MAINTAINED IT TO A T. READING ON LINE THIS SEEMS TO ALL BE RELATED TO THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. MINI IS NOT STANDING BY THEIR CAR AND REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILTY. HOPEFULLY IF WE ALL CONTINUE TO SQUEAK WE CAN GET THEM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR FAULTY VEHICLES. I HAVE A NICE LOOKING NON RUNNING WORTHLESS CAR SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY...ANYONE WANT IT!

NHTSA ID

10823750

Incident

Jan 28, 2016

Mileage

55,000 mi

DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONERS CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE EXHAUST VALVES PREVENTING COMPRESSION IN THE ENGINE AS IS DESCRIBED IN ONE OF MANY CLASS ACTION SUITS.

NHTSA ID

10821123

Incident

Dec 29, 2015

Mileage

660,000 mi

TIMING CHAIN BROKE WELL BEFORE 10 YEAR OR 100000 MILES. THIS TIMING CHAIN BREAKAGE CAUSED MY ENGINE TO FAIL DUE TO PISTON DAMAGE OR CYLINDER DAMAGE. MY ENGINE NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY VEHICLE WAS MOVING WHEN THE SOUND OCCURRED. WHEN I RESEARCHED THIS SOUND, I LEARNED IT MAY BE THE TIMING CHAIN AND TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE TO BE REPLACED. THE GARAGE REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN AND WHEN THEY TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE, IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE RUNNING RIGHT AND AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUINED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10811345

Incident

Oct 15, 2015

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND BEGAN TO JERK. IN ADDITION, A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVEN AND OILS LEAKS WERE DISCOVERED WHEN PARKED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ID

10785590

Incident

Sep 2, 2015

Mileage

44,000 mi

SINCE I GET MY UNTIL NOW I REPAIR TWO TIMES . THE FIRST TIME I WAS CHANGE THE PART OF THE TOP OF THE MOTOR I DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME. BUT THIS ONE THAT IS THE MOST STRAGE I WAS DRIVING AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THE MOTOR STOP INTANLY. THE MOST STRANGE IS 10 MINUTES AFTER DRIVE THE CAR ALL THIS HAPPEN SO THAT MEAN IS NO SAFE. AND NOW WHAT I HAVE TO DO....

NHTSA ID

10749937

Incident

Jan 24, 2014

Mileage

29,800 mi

THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN THE TENSIONER FOR THE TIMING CHAIN NO LONGER APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE GUIDE RAIL. THIS CAUSES THE TIMING CHAIN TO FLAP AGAINST THE THE GUIDE RAILS EVENTUALLY BREAKING THEM. THERE WAS A NOISE THAT WAS CREATED HEARD DURING COLD START UP AND EVENTUALLY WENT AWAY WHEN THE ENGINE GOT WARM. THE ITEMS REPAIRED WERE A FAULTY CHAIN TENSIONER, TIMING CHAIN, CHAIN GUIDE RAIL, BEARING BOLT, BEARING BOLT GASKET, CRANK SHAFT SPROCKET, CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT, VALVE COVER GASKET, PERMATEX HYLOMAR GASKET MAKER, SERPETINE BELT, SOLENOID, AND VANOS. THIS ISSUE APPEARED WELL BEFORE BMWS SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE PERIOD OF 120,000 MILES, OR 10 YEARS.

NHTSA ID

10724111

Incident

Jan 10, 2014

Mileage

68,250 mi

UPON TH EENGINE HEATING AND COOLING THE PLASTIC GASKET ON TH EENGINE OIL COOLER CAN GET PINCHED, CAUSING AN OIL LEAK. MINI COOPERS IN PRIOR YEARS - 2002-2007 HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND MINI HAD A RECALL. IF I SPEND THE $1,800 TO GET THE REPAIR THE NEXT TIME THE ENGINE HEATS UP AND COOLS - THE GASKET COULD BECOME PINCHED AGAIN - THUS CAUSING A LEAK. MINI COOPER OF ATLANTA IS YES THIS COULD HAPPEN AND I WOULD HAVE TO GET IT REPAIRED AGAIN. MINI COOPER NEEDS TO ENSURE THE 2 PLATES OF THE METAL OIL COOLER ARE SECURE AND CANNOT EXPAND AND SHRINK - UPON ENGINE USAGE. THIS IS THE SAME MANUFACTURING FLAW MINI COOPER HAD IN 2002 - 2007 - SO WHY HASN'T MINI COOPER BEEN TOLD TO FIX THEIR PROBLEM - VERSES THROWING THE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CUSTOMER?

NHTSA ID

10716780

Incident

Feb 3, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

ENGINE CEASED WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. PREVIOUSLY TOOK CAR TO MINI DEALER WHEN ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS PROBABLY ON BECAUSE OF THE GAS CAP AND THEIR WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10714804

Incident

Apr 12, 2015

Mileage

95,000 mi

LEAKING TURBO OIL FEED LINE AND FAILING TIMING CHAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712896

Incident

Feb 14, 2014

Mileage

65,000 mi

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. BMW NORTH AMERICA HAD ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE 2005 - 2008 MODELS, BUT NOT AFFECTED 2009 (2008 PRODUCTION DATE) MODELS. PERSISTENT OIL LEAKS FROM AND AROUND OIL FILTER HOUSING AND TURBO OIL LINES. OIL LEAKS DIRECTLY ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD DOWN PIPE, POTENTIALLY STARTING A FIRE, HASN'T YET, BUT THERE HAS BEEN PLENTY OF SMOKE AND IN ONE INSTANCE, A SMALL FLARE-UP WHEN OIL DRIPPED ON THE PIPE AS THE CAR WAS IDLING IN THE GARAGE AFTER A SHORT TRIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712346

Incident

Jan 15, 2015

Mileage

64,500 mi