Complaints about the 2009 Mini Cooper S peaked in 2013, with 28 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Hatchback, gasoline, built in United Kingdom. Owner complaints on file from Jun 9, 2010 to Jun 17, 2024.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23V-337 | May 11, 2023 | Electronic control module in the driver's side footwell area may short-circuit, due to corrosion from water and road salt | Electrical system | 97,933 | Part replacement |
| 18V-248 | Apr 18, 2018 | Electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat | Engine and cooling | 47,806 | Part replacement |
| 12V-008 | Jan 11, 2012 | Electric auxiliary water pump that cools the turbocharger has an electronic circuit board that can malfunction and overheat | Engine and cooling | 90,368 | Part replacement |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
119 complaints on file, page 1 of 6.
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 complaint 11594759The 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 complaint 11567466The 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 complaint 11563000The 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 complaint 11560187The 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 complaint 11557932The 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 complaint 11557894The 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 complaint 11536862The 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 complaint 11440703THERE 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 complaint 11355550THE 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 complaint 11320262MY 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 complaint 11300045WAS PARKED AND WENT TO START IT AND NO WARNING CHIMES SEAT BELT SEAT RADIO AIR BAGS
NHTSA complaint 11297681MY 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 complaint 11276996DAILY 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 complaint 11269051PASSENGER 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 complaint 11242477VEHICLE 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 complaint 11221055AT 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 complaint 11206143WHILE 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 complaint 11162452AUXILIARY 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 complaint 11128402MY 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 complaint 11112588Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall; the 60 most recent are listed.