Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 MINI Cooper submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 50 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 50, in the owner's own words
This has a major recall and won’t pass inspection. Engine light is on . I’ve called dealership and was told parts are on back order . Last year I was told the same thing before I received a letter in the mail.
MINI was totally destroyed by fire after driving for 15 minutes. It was parked in a parking lot and was in flames 5 minutes after my wife entered the store. This is comparable with problem requiring recall (with no remedy). No warnings
HELLO, YESTERDAY AFTERNOON I STARTED MY 2009 MINI COOPER AND NOTED THAT MY GAUGES SUDDENLY FAILED. THE TACH DROPPED TO ZERO. SUDDENLY I RECEIVED A TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT. I DECIDED I WOULD MOVE THE CAR TO A MORE FAVORABLE LOCATION TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD. AS I PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE I NOTED THAT MY POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. I STOPPED THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND POPPED THE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE SMELL OF BURNING ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. I RAN DOWN TO THE BASEMENT TO GRAB A WRENCH TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. WHEN I RETURNED I COULD HEAR POPS AND CRACKS AND NOTED CHAR ON THE HOOD INTERIOR. THOUGH THE KEYS WERE OUT I CONTINUED TO HEAR POPS AND CRACKS AND FELT HEAT ACCUMULATING . I FINALLY GOT THE BATTERY DISCONNECTED AND THE POPPING STOPPED. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THE WIRING NEAR THE POWER STEERING MODULE WAS COMPLETELY BURNT OUT. THE CAR DROVE FINE THE DAY PRIOR. MY WIFE IS 38 WEEKS PREGNANT AND I AM SHAKEN BY THE IDEA THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING THE DAY BEFORE.
MY CAR STARTED OFF WITH A ROUGH IDLE AND OCCASIONALLY WOULDN'T START. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR BECAME JERKY WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS SUDDEN SPURTS WHEN IT WANTS TO TAKE OFF. I RAN THE CODE AND GOT P0012. FROM THERE I HAVE REPLACED MULTIPLE PARTS BUT I THINK I LANDED ON THE TIMING CHAIN. I KNOW THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT WITH THESE YEARS BUT FOR SOME REASON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE SETTLEMENT
LIGHT IS COMING ON AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTS SMOOTHLY BUT WHEN YOU DECELERATE IT BUCKS DOWN. IT HAPPENS ANYWHERE ON THE ROADS WHEN DRIVING AND YOU DECELERATE. THE LIGHT THAT INDICATES ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSION, IN THE BOOK IT SAYS I WON'T BE ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK BUT THERE IS NO ISSUE SHIFTING OUT OF PARK, SO NOT SURE IF IT IS CONSIDERED ELECTRICAL OR IF IT IS POWERTRAIN
2009 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND VEHICLE ENGINE FAILURE. *SMD *TR
RECALL ID #167856 THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND IT BEGAN TO SMOKE, HEAT AND SMOKE BEGAN TO ARISE FROM THE ENGINE AFTER I JUST PICKED IT UP FROM CARMAX AND WAS REASSURED THAT THE CAR WAS FIXED AFTER PAYING +900 DOLLARS FOR MY VEHICLE FROM BEING IN THE SHOP TO NOT BE FIXED. VIN NUMBER IS [XXX] I BELIEVE MY COPPER IS APART OF THIS RECALL THAT OCCURRED IN 2012 I LEASED THE VEHICLE IN MARCH 2016 AND NOT EVEN A YEAR LATER IS MY CAR ABLE TO DRIVE AS THE INCIDENT DESCRIBED ABOVE OCCURRED SOMETIME IN FALL/WINTER 2016. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *PM *TR
DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN. VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.
AT ABOUT 65,000 THE CAR WOULD JUST RANDOMLY RATTLE & TURN OFF AT ANY STOP INCLUDING DURING RUSH HOUR WHEN CAR HAD TO COME TO A ROLLING STOP DUE TO TRAFFIC. CAR ALSO SKIPPED GEARS, ALSO JUST RANDOMLY. WE WERE UNABLE TO TAKE TO A MINI SERVICE CENTER DUE TO MY DAUGHTER HAVING IT AT COLLEGE WHERE MINI WAS NOT AVAILABLE. WE DID TAKE TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC AND UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSTICS NOT TELLING HIM ANYTHING HE COULD NOT "FIX" THE PROBLEM.....TWICE. WE KNOW THAT MINI HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE TIMING CHAIN AND THEY CLAIM THAT OUR MODEL AND YEAR IS NOT PART OF THIS ISSUE. WELL WE ALSO HAVE A 2010 MINI COOPER AND THE SAME TIMING CHAIN ISSUE WITH SIMILAR SYMPTOMS HAS JUST BEEN REPAIRED FOR OVER $1800.
WE PARKED THE CAR AND 3 HOURS LATER IS WAS ON FIRE. IT SEEMS TO HAVE EMANATED FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP AREA BUT CANNOT TELL WITH ALL THE FIRE DAMAGE. THE CAR IS MOST LIKELY A TOTAL LOSS.
BOUGHT A 2009 MINI S FOR MY DAUGHTER IN AUGUST OF 2015 WITH 36K MILES ON IT. SINCE THEN I'VE SPENT OVER $5000 IN REPAIRS AND THE CAR IS CURRENTLY PARKED AND NOT BEING DRIVEN BECAUSE NOW THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR IS 5 MONTHS PAST THE "WARRANTY" PERIOD FOR THIS SERVICE BULLETIN CAMPAIGN, AND THIS REPAIR WILL LIKELY COST ANOTHER $3000OR MORE I'VE PAID FOR TO REPAIR THE OIL LEAK IN THE TURBO LINE AS WELL AS THE WATER PUMP FAILING, AND REPLACED THE VALVE COVER DUE TO OIL LEAKING, ALL WELL KNOWN ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER ISSUES ARE WELL KNOWN BY BMW/MINI AS WELL AND THERE IS NO RECOURSE FOR OWNERS OF THESE CARS AT THIS POINT. MY CAR ONLY HAS 48,000 MILES ON IT! THERE IS NO REASON FOR ALL OF THESE PARTS TO BE FAILING THE WAY THEY ARE. I WILL HAVE SPENT MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT I PAID FOR THIS CAR BEFORE ITS DRIVABLE AGAIN. VERY UNHAPPY WITH MINI!!!!!
TURBO OIL LINE LEAKS AND DRIPS ON TURBO MANIFOLD CAUSING BURNING OIL SMELL AND SMOKE. THE ENGINE CAUGHT A SMALL FIRE, LUCKY I WAS PARKED ON SIDE OF A HIGHWAY ROAD UP IN THE MOUNTAINS. (NO FIRE STATIONS OR VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC) I SMELT SOMETHING BURNING UNDER TO HOOD WHEN IT HAPPENED AND CAUGHT THE FLAMES IN TIME TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. 2 SEATTLE AREA MINI DEALERS STATE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL THE TURBO ENGINES IN THIS CLASS. THEY WANT YOU TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR IT'S A $1300 FIX. I BELIEVE THAT MINI/BMW NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPAIR/RECALL THE TURBO OIL LINE BECAUSE IT POSES A SAFETY ISSUE THE CAR COULD CATCH FIRE AND POTENTIALLY INJURE SOMEONE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, OR WORSE DEATH.
MY 2009 MINI COOPER HARDTOP WITH 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION CONSUMES ONE QUART OF ENGINE OIL PER 1000 MILES. THIS IS TRULY UNACCEPTABLE. IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND EXPENSE THAT IS VERY ANNOYING. NOT TO MENTION THE SAFETY SIDE OF IT AND THE POSSIBILITY OF BURNING OUT THE ENGINE. BMW/MINI NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REBUILD AND REPAIR THE ENGINE TO CORRECT THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROBLEM.
OCCUPANCY AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON REPLACEMENT 2 TIMES NOW ON AGAIN HIT A BUMP IT COULD AT TIMES GO OFF. REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND OIL PUMP NOT EVEN AT 60,000 MILES
MY MINI HAS UNDER 50,000 MILES AND IS A 2009, AND TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING IT, ONE WEEK AFTER A NEW OIL CHANGE A RATTLING STARTED IN THE TIMING CHAIN REGION UNDER THE HOOD. THERE ARE SEVERAL ONGOING AND RECENT LAWSUITS INVOLVING THE FAULTY TIMING COMPONENTS, HOWEVER BMW HAS REFUSED TO DO A RECALL. I HAVE NO OTHER OPTION WHERE I LIVE THAN TO TAKE IT TO A MINI DEALERSHIP, WHICH IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS SITUATION, QUOTING A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF $2000-$4000 FOR A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTICS/REPAIR. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW COMMON THE PROBLEM IS AND THE FACT THAT A COMPANY THAT IS KNOWN FOR BEING REPUTABLE, BMW, IS BEING SO UNPROFESSIONAL IN ADMITTING THE FAULT. ALSO, I HAD TO TOW MY MINI TO PREVENT THE CHAIN FROM SPONTANEOUSLY BRAKING ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL, JUST ANOTHER FEE, TO PREVENT INCURRING AN EVEN PRICIER DAMAGE TO THE TURBO ENGINE, JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
I NOTED THAT AT IDLE THE ENGINE OF MY 2009 MINI COOPER WAS NOT RUNNING SMOOTH AND INSTEAD BEGINNING TO PULSATE/VIBRATE. WITHIN IN 3 DAYS I HAD MY MINI AT THE SERVICE CENTER. ON THE WAY TO THE APPOINTMENT THE ENGINE CUT OFF AT IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT BUT WAS ABLE TO RESTART. NO SENSOR LIGHT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. AS A RESULT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE DAMAGE ALSO CAUSED AN OIL LEAK SO THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING WITHOUT OIL, THOUGH I'D RECENTLY RECEIVED AN OIL CHANGE. ADDITIONALLY, THE VACUUM PUMP WAS ALSO LEAKING. AT NO TIME DID ANY SENSOR LIGHTS COME ON AS A WARNING, INCLUDING A CHECK ENGINE, LOW OIL, OR LOW COOLANT . I WAS INFORMED THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE UPWARDS OF $3500.00, OVER HALF OF THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. DESPITE THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT THAT I INQUIRED ABOUT, MINI FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SETTLEMENT OF THE LAWSUIT RESULTED IN EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES FOR THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE TO 7 YEARS/100,000MI. MY MINI ONLY HAD 64,000MILES AND WAS WITHIN THE 7 YEAR MARK. ADDITIONALLY, I LEARNED THAT MINI HAD PREVIOUSLY ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE VACUUM PUMP. HOWEVER, I WAS REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT FOR BOTH OF THESE ISSUES "[MY] VEHICLE WAS NOT ONE OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES."
TIMING CHAIN , PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR WHEN IN MOTION.
AT 89,044 MILES MY 2009 MINI COOPER, PURCHASED FROM VISTA MINI SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC COOLANT LOSS DUE TO A CRACKED THERMOSTAT HOUSING, AND AS A DIRECT RESULT THE VEHICLE SEVERELY OVERHEATED IRREPARABLY DAMAGING THE ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE TURNPIKE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE CAME ON, AND BEFORE I COULD SAFELY PULL THE VEHICLE OVER THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY SLOWED TO A VERITABLE CRAWL (ALLOWING ME JUST ENOUGH TIME TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD). THE VEHICLE WAS ULTIMATELY TOWED TO A MINI DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACED. WHICH WOULD BE A RATHER COSTLY REPAIR, REQUIRING AN OUTLAY OF FUNDS FAR GREATER THAN THE VEHICLE'S VALUE. THEREBY SUBSTANTIALLY DECREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF COMPLETING THE REQUIRED REPAIRS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BELIEVING IT TO BE A QUALITY PRODUCT, AND ONE CAPABLE OF BEING DRIVEN FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. HOWEVER, THE EXPERIENCE I SUFFERED SEVERELY SHOOK MY CONFIDENCE IN THE PRODUCT, SO I BEGAN TO DO MY OWN RESEARCH ON THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. IT TURNS OUT THAT NOT ONLY MINI ENGINES, BUT ALSO THOSE MANUFACTURED BY BMW, SHARE A SIMILAR DEFECT, IN THAT THEY BOTH ARE PRONE TO THE THERMOSTAT HOUSINGS CRACKING AND CAUSING RAPID COOLANT LOSS. COUPLE THAT WITH THE WELL DOCUMENTED CRITICISM OF THE LOCATION OF THE COOLANT SENSOR IN THE ENGINE, AND YOU HAVE CREATED THE PERFECT NUCLEUS FOR GENERATING A CATACLYSMIC MELTDOWN OF THE ENGINE THAT LIES SECRETLY HIBERNATING WITHIN THE PRODUCT LINE. THEREFORE, I DO NOT FEEL THAT IT IS FAIR FOR ME TO HAVE TO BEAR THE BURDENSOME COST OF REPAIR FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS ENDEMIC TO THE PRODUCT LINE AS A WHOLE.
THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER ON MY MINI WAS CHANGED AS PART OF SILENT SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH AUGHT TO BE A RECALL. BY THE TIME IT WAS REPLACED IT WAS TOO LATE, NOW A YEAR LATER MY TIMING CHAIN IS OUT OF SPEC AND RATTLING AWAY IN MY CAR WITH A REPLACEMENT SET TO COST ABOUT $2000 FOR PARTS THAT MINI CLAIMED WOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. MINI REFUSES TO REPLACE ANY PARTS UNTIL THEY'VE FAILED SO I'M STUCK EITHER PAYING OUT OF POCKET AND NEVER SEEING A DIME BACK, OR RISKING LIFE AND LIMB ON THE ROAD UNTIL THESE PARTS FAIL SO THAT MINI CAN OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKE...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
WHEN I WAS DRIVING HIGHWAY, A RED WARNING LIGHT OF "LOW ENGINE PRESSURE" CAME ON, AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE NOISES. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO COME DOWN FROM THE HIGHWAY, AND SOON AFTER THAT, THE ENGINE STALLED COMPLETELY. IT WAS A VERY SCARY MOMENT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY REPORTED, "SIGNIFICANT OIL SPLASH ON RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE. ADDED 3 QUARTS OF OIL TO TRY AND START ENGINE TO DETERMINE IF ENGINE DAMAGE HAD OCCURRED FROM LOSS OF OIL. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE SOUNDED AS IF CHAIN HAD JUMPED TIMING OR ENGINE DAMAGE HAD OCCURRED. RESEARCHED VEHICLE AND FOUND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) RELATING TO SEAL ON TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILING AND CAUSING TENSIONER TO LEAK AND LOOSEN. MAY HAVE LOOSENED, CAUSING JUMPED TIMING AND POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE. JOB REQUIRES EXTENSIVE LABOR AND SPECIAL TOOLS WE DO NOT HAVE. RECOMMEND SEEKING DEALER FOR FUTTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CAR WAS TOWED AGAIN TO A MINI DEALERSHIP. THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS: FOUND OIL LEAKING OUT AT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, OIL LEVEL LOW. CRANK BUT NOT START REMOVE VALVE COVER AND FOUND TIMING WAS OFF, RE-ADJUST TIMING, RETORQUED TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, PERFORMED COMPRESSION TEST, 8 CRANKS FOR EACH CYLINDERS CYL 1: 60 PSI CYL 2: 55 PSI CYL 3: 35 PSI CYL 4: 30 PSI PERFORMED CYLINDER LEAK DOWN TESTS, ALL WERE BELOW 50%. USED SCOPE AND INSPECT INSIDE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS AND CYLINDER WALLS. FOUND DAMAGED AND CRACKED WALL CAUSED LOOSING COMPRESSION. NEED NEW ENGINE REQUIRED ALSO: WATER PUMP LEAKING AND CONTAMINAITED THE PULLY, FRICTION WHEEL AND DRIVE BELT THERMOSTAT IS LEAKING
I TOOK MY MINI COOPER TO PASSPORT MINI IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY MARYLAND FOR THE HPFP FAILING WHERE THEY CHANGED IT AND THEN TOLD ME THAT THE TURBO OIL FEED LINE IS LEAKING AND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD STRETCHED AND WAS GOING TO FAIL. AFTER I TOLD THEM THAT I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS AND COMPLAINED SOME THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD COVER 30% OF THE CHAIN REPLACEMENT AND A COMPLETE DETAIL OF MY CAR AND THAT THEY WERE BEING "GENEROUS". I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I WANTED MY DEFECTIVE CHAIN FIXED NOT A CAR WASH. AFTER READING THIS WEBSITE I AM HOPING TO GET THE OIL FEED LINE REPLACED TOO. IT TO IS VERY WELL DOCUMENTED. IF IT GOES UP IN FLAMES WHILE MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ARE IN THE CAR WHICH ONE OF THE EXECUTIVES AT MINI OR BMW WILL WRITE ME TO APOLOGIZE FOR THIS? THIS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR FOR A COMPANY. LAWYERS WONT HELP MINI WONT HELP BMW WONT HELP. NO ONE WANTS TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE CONSUMER ANYMORE! ALL OF US DESERVE TO BE TREATED FAIRLY. THIS IS WHY WE HAVE GOVERNMENT, FOR TIMES LIKE THIS WHEN THE BIG COMPANIES RUN US OVER AND LAUGH AT US! *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD, AND SUDDENLY I SAW THE CAR START TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD,AND I SAW THE SMOKE COMING OUT OF ENGINE .THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS THE ENGINE TOTALLY IS COLLAPSING,AND NEED NEW ENGINE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
LEAK IN TURBO OIL LINE DUE TO CRACKS IN PLASTIC O-RING. AFTER HUNDREDS OF HEAT CYCLES, THE O-RING COOKS ITS SELF AND STARTS TO LEAK OIL ONTO THE TURBO. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE PRODUCT RECALL AND INSTALLATION OF THE OIL LINE HEAT SHIELD BY NTSB SHOULD HAVE ALSO INCLUDED RECALL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE TURBO OIL LINE. THE OIL LINE HEAT SHIELD HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM OF THE BAKED O-RING IN THE TURBO OIL LINE AND THEREFORE THE TURBO OIL LINE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER RECALL/DEFECT! *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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