Problems · by component
2009 MINI Cooper engine problems
46 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 MINI Cooper cite engine, 30% of all 152 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
46
30% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
“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] *PM *TR”
Showing 6 of 46 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.