Problems · by component
2007 MINI Cooper engine problems
125 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2007 MINI Cooper cite engine, 33% of all 383 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
125
33% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
10
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“[XXX]. Mini Cooper 2007-2013: Recalls and TSB. My car is part of a recall under MINI Recall for Timing Chains. I understand now it was settled as part of a class action lawsuit that extended the warranty. I always take my car to a dealer and now after mileage they told me that they want me to pay out of my pocket. My car is a 2007 S. My mileage is 105,000K miles. The recall notice is for the year of my car and they are saying my car is too old and the mileage. This recall is for the year of my car so I am not understanding. Upon inspection by the dealer, it and needs to be replaced and cost $4,100.00. I don't have that kind of money. . My name is [XXX], [XXX]., [XXX], [XXX]. Phone #[XXX]. The dealership is Mini Cooper 1660 E.Spring Street, Long Beach Ca 90806. I never received this recall notice and knew of this only because I took my car to the dealer for something else related for the 3rd time.”
“On 2014 a Class Action Lawsuit was filed against BMW OF NORTH AMERICA for claims regarding MINI COOPER models. Answering your questions as follows: -The failing component was the timing chain tensioner -Yes, engine stalled at any speed -No, dealer did not acknowledge the real problem -No, dealer did not told me about the Class Action Lawsuit, did not advice me of any preventive repair or to install a new timing chain tensioner, when the component failed dealer told me that the problem was a jumping timing chain ; the same excuse as in the lawsuit. -There was only an engine light, not any other warning light There were two repairs, the first for $ 2,629.10 on 6/18/2016 the second for $ 3,354.93 on 1/13/2017 dealer had a two years parts and labor warranty that didn't honor and in 2016 the lawsuit was active and not of my knowledge. My question is: if the production numbers engraved on the timing chain tensioner cylinder face match or are part of the production batch from the factory for which the class action lawsuit took place ? Numbers top line: 7565868 80-02 Lower line: IV/ IS GERMANY 3 1 0 This is looks like half cero All components (parts) and the vehicle…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A STANDSTILL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EMIT SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER SCHOMP MINI (1001 PLUM VALLEY LN, HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO 80129 (303) 872-5752) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERMAL HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V248000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,867.”
“VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY, WAS NOT STARTED AND WAS UNATTENDED, HAD NOT BEEN STARTED IN OVER A WEEK AND KEYS WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY BURST INTO FLAMES WHICH BURNED THE ENGINE BAY AND FRONT END OF THE CAR BEFORE THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH FOAM. THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING UNSTARTED FOR OVER A WEEK. I AM UNSURE OF WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE AND BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE BAY I COULD NOT DETERMINE WERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED. PERHAPS A PROFESSIONAL FIRE EXAMINER COULD DETERMINE THAT. I AM BLESSED THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE PARKED IN MY GARAGE BUT WAS SCARY. I JUST WANT THIS INCIDENT ON RECORD SO THAT OTHERS WHICH OWN THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF VEHICLE CAN BE WARNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL DANGERS. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW AND HAD A COUPLE OF UPDATES DONE PER BMW SUCH AS THE TAILPIPES AND TIMING CHAIN IN THE ENGINE. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY ADDITIONAL RECALLS OR UPDATES BUT APPARENTLY THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INCIDENCES OF FIRES SUCH AS MINE WHICH I LEARNED ABOUT AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET TO SEE IF SIMILAR ISSUES HAD BEEN DOCUMENTED. I WILL ATTACH A FEW PICTURES FOR YOU TO HELP WITH YOUR…”
“THERMOSTAST HOUSING REPLACEMENT AND WATER PIPE. COOLING SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE FLUSH. ENGINE REBUILD DUE OVER HEATING. OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACEMENT. TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT. THERMOSTAST REPLACEMENT.”
“PROBLEM 1: CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 50,000 JUST AFTER WARRANTY. UNABLE TO SHIFT ON HIGHWAY, HAD TO STAY IN LOW GEAR. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. IT FAILED A SECOND TIME, WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 80,000. I BELIEVE IT IS FAILING AGAIN AS THE CLUTCH IS SLIPPING IN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS; MINI COOPER SAYS THEY NOTE NO PROBLEM. PROBLEM 2: TIMING CHAIN. PARKED, MY CAR WOULD NOT START EASILY; STARTED ON 3RD TRY. MY CAR STALLED, STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN DUE TO TRAFFIC. RESTARTED AND CONTINUED. NO ENGINE LIGHT. DRIVING TO MINI SERVICE, CAR STALLED COMING IN; HAD TO COAST IN. FOUND TO BE TIMING CHAIN, VALVETRONIC ECCENTRIC SHAFT, PERHAPS PARTS FALLING INTO OIL PAN. $2800 IN REPAIRS. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT LAW SUITS OR RECALLS OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS BECAUSE I'VE HAD MAJOR PERFORMANCE ISSUES, MINI COOPER STATED NO KNOWN SUITS EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE. I FIND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SUITS, AND I "MISSED THE WINDOW" FOR THE TIMING CHAIN.”
Showing 6 of 125 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.