RoadVitals

2009 MINI Jcw Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
9
Latest Nov 25, 2016
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
6
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.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 MINI Jcw, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine436.4%
  • Airbags327.3%
  • Body & structure19.1%
  • Brakes19.1%
  • Interior & seats19.1%
  • Other / unspecified19.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE OIL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINE CONNECTIONS AT THE TURBO HAVE FAILED AND SPRAYED OIL ONTO A VERY HOT TURBO CAUSING A HIGH RISK OF FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10472854 · filed Aug 28, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI JCW. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE GARAGE IN HIS HOME WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND REPORTED TO THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FLAMES CAUSED DAMAGE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS ALSO PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE RESIDENCE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY OVERHEATING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V008000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO VERIFY IF HIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID 10448836 · filed Feb 21, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SAME ISSUE AS COMPLAINT NHTSA ID NUMBER 10809500 AND 10250135

NHTSA ID 10927868 · filed Nov 25, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI JCW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ID 10809500 · filed Dec 10, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF TWO DEFLECTORS (UNDER THE VEHICLE'S FRONT BUMPER ' ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE CAR) APPARENTLY DESIGNED TO FLEX WHEN, AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE'S LOW GROUND CLEARANCE, SUCH DEFLECTORS CONTACT THE GROUND DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE (E.G., ON DRIVEWAY APRONS, SPEED BUMPS, ETC.). INSTEAD OF FLEXING, THE DEFLECTORS REPEATEDLY FAIL AS A RESULT OF THEIR DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THE DEFLECTORS ARE OBVIOUSLY DESIGNED TO BE FLEXIBLE BY FUSING HARD RUBBER TO HARD PLASTIC. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF FLEXING, THE DEFLECTORS FAIL AT THE SEAM WHERE THE HARD RUBBER IS FUSED TO THE HARD PLASTIC. MINI HAS REPLACED ONE SET OF DEFECTIVE DEFLECTORS, WHICH PROMPTLY FAILED WITHIN WEEKS UNDER NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. MINI REFUSES TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE DEFLECTORS. BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC REPEATEDLY REFUSES TO RESPOND TO INQUIRIES REGARDING WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DEFLECTORS IN PLACE. SUCH REPEATED REFUSAL BY BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC IMPLIES THAT THE VEHICLE IS INDEED NOT SAFE TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DEFLECTORS IN PLACE. BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THE DEFLECTORS ARE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED, CITING 'OUTSIDE INFLUENCES' (WITHOUT EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT IS MEANT THEREBY) AS THE CAUSE OF THE REPEATED FAILURE OF THE DEFLECTORS. THE FUSING OF HARD RUBBER TO HARD PLASTIC ON A PART SUCH AS THE DEFLECTORS WHICH ARE TO BE FASTENED TO A CAR WITH SUCH A LOW GROUND CLEARANCE REPRESENTS A DESIGN SPECIFICALLY MEANT TO BE FLEXIBLE IN RESPONSE TO 'OUTSIDE INFLUENCES,' AND WHEN SUCH PART FAILS AT THE SEAM OF THE TWO DIFFERING SUBSTANCES, THE DESIGN IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST AND A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE FROM THE FRONT BRAKES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE DEFLECTORS AND POTENTIALLY CREATING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE RETAINED THE HARD RUBBER AND HARD PLASTIC PIECES OF THE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED DEFLECTORS FOR INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID 10313585 · filed Feb 24, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF TWO DEFLECTORS (UNDER THE VEHICLE'S FRONT BUMPER ' ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE CAR) APPARENTLY DESIGNED TO FLEX WHEN, AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE'S LOW GROUND CLEARANCE, SUCH DEFLECTORS CONTACT THE GROUND DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE (E.G., ON DRIVEWAY APRONS, SPEED BUMPS, ETC.). INSTEAD OF FLEXING, THE DEFLECTORS REPEATEDLY FAIL AS A RESULT OF THEIR DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THE DEFLECTORS ARE OBVIOUSLY DESIGNED TO BE FLEXIBLE BY FUSING HARD RUBBER TO HARD PLASTIC. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF FLEXING, THE DEFLECTORS FAIL AT THE SEAM WHERE THE HARD RUBBER IS FUSED TO THE HARD PLASTIC. MINI HAS REPLACED ONE SET OF DEFECTIVE DEFLECTORS, WHICH PROMPTLY FAILED WITHIN WEEKS UNDER NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. MINI REFUSES TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE DEFLECTORS. BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC REPEATEDLY REFUSES TO RESPOND TO INQUIRIES REGARDING WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DEFLECTORS IN PLACE. SUCH REPEATED REFUSAL BY BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC IMPLIES THAT THE VEHICLE IS INDEED NOT SAFE TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DEFLECTORS IN PLACE. BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THE DEFLECTORS ARE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED, CITING 'OUTSIDE INFLUENCES' (WITHOUT EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT IS MEANT THEREBY) AS THE CAUSE OF THE REPEATED FAILURE OF THE DEFLECTORS. THE FUSING OF HARD RUBBER TO HARD PLASTIC ON A PART SUCH AS THE DEFLECTORS WHICH ARE TO BE FASTENED TO A CAR WITH SUCH A LOW GROUND CLEARANCE REPRESENTS A DESIGN SPECIFICALLY MEANT TO BE FLEXIBLE IN RESPONSE TO 'OUTSIDE INFLUENCES,' AND WHEN SUCH PART FAILS AT THE SEAM OF THE TWO DIFFERING SUBSTANCES, THE DESIGN IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST AND A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE FROM THE FRONT BRAKES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE DEFLECTORS AND POTENTIALLY CREATING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE RETAINED THE HARD RUBBER AND HARD PLASTIC PIECES OF THE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED DEFLECTORS FOR INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID 10313585 · filed Feb 24, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DURING HEAVY RAIN, THE FRONT WINDOWS OPEN COMPLETELY UNCOMMANDED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONLY ONE TIME. EVERYTHING IN THE CAR, EXCEPT THE HEADLINER, WAS WET. WATER WAS STANDING MORE THAN ONE INCH DEEP ON THE FLOOR. THE FRONT AND REAR SEATS HAD STANDING WATER. THE DASH BOARD WAS WET. THE DOOR STORAGE AREAS HAD STANDING WATER. THE DASH BOARD VENTS HAD WATER STANDING IN THEM. THE A AND B PILLARS WERE DRIPPING WATER. WATER WAS STANDING IN THE TRAY UNDERNEATH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SWITCHES ON IT WERE SOAKED. THE DEALER DRIED THE CAR AND REPLACED A SENSOR IN THE DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. THE DEALER SAID THAT A REDESIGNED PART FROM MINI WAS INSTALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID 10253337 · filed Dec 31, 2008

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF TWO DEFLECTORS (UNDER THE VEHICLE'S FRONT BUMPER ' ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE CAR) APPARENTLY DESIGNED TO FLEX WHEN, AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE'S LOW GROUND CLEARANCE, SUCH DEFLECTORS CONTACT THE GROUND DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE (E.G., ON DRIVEWAY APRONS, SPEED BUMPS, ETC.). INSTEAD OF FLEXING, THE DEFLECTORS REPEATEDLY FAIL AS A RESULT OF THEIR DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THE DEFLECTORS ARE OBVIOUSLY DESIGNED TO BE FLEXIBLE BY FUSING HARD RUBBER TO HARD PLASTIC. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF FLEXING, THE DEFLECTORS FAIL AT THE SEAM WHERE THE HARD RUBBER IS FUSED TO THE HARD PLASTIC. MINI HAS REPLACED ONE SET OF DEFECTIVE DEFLECTORS, WHICH PROMPTLY FAILED WITHIN WEEKS UNDER NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. MINI REFUSES TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE DEFLECTORS. BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC REPEATEDLY REFUSES TO RESPOND TO INQUIRIES REGARDING WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DEFLECTORS IN PLACE. SUCH REPEATED REFUSAL BY BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC IMPLIES THAT THE VEHICLE IS INDEED NOT SAFE TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DEFLECTORS IN PLACE. BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THE DEFLECTORS ARE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED, CITING 'OUTSIDE INFLUENCES' (WITHOUT EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT IS MEANT THEREBY) AS THE CAUSE OF THE REPEATED FAILURE OF THE DEFLECTORS. THE FUSING OF HARD RUBBER TO HARD PLASTIC ON A PART SUCH AS THE DEFLECTORS WHICH ARE TO BE FASTENED TO A CAR WITH SUCH A LOW GROUND CLEARANCE REPRESENTS A DESIGN SPECIFICALLY MEANT TO BE FLEXIBLE IN RESPONSE TO 'OUTSIDE INFLUENCES,' AND WHEN SUCH PART FAILS AT THE SEAM OF THE TWO DIFFERING SUBSTANCES, THE DESIGN IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST AND A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE FROM THE FRONT BRAKES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE DEFLECTORS AND POTENTIALLY CREATING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE RETAINED THE HARD RUBBER AND HARD PLASTIC PIECES OF THE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED DEFLECTORS FOR INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID 10313585 · filed Feb 24, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .