Engine. Review the 94 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 79 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports14 fire reports10 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

11 reports

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10 miles · Aug 31, 2018

Unknown Or Other

TO THE RIGHT OF MY GAS PEDAL IN MY CAR GETS SUPER HOT! IT REACHES OVER 207 FAHRENHEIT DEGREES. IT GETS WORSE WHEN I USE MY AC. WHEN I WEAR MY FLIP FLOPS IT BURNS MY TOES.

NHTSA ODI #11123608

400 miles · Jun 26, 2018

Unknown Or Other

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TAKATA RECALL, I HAVE A 2007 MINI COOPER THAT ONLY HAS 84000 MILES AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TIME CHAIN REPLACE 4 TIMES. THE REPAIR GARAGE IS TELLING ME THAT MINI KEEPS UPDATING THE KITS FOR EVERY REPAIR. THE TIME CHAIN WAS REPLACED IN 2009, 2012,2016,2018. ONCE THING THEY DID TELL ME THAT I DON'T KEEP ENOUGH OIL IN THE CAR, BUT IF THE OIL LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON HOW AM I TO KNOW THIS. I DON'T HAVE $2000.00 TO $2500.00 EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS TO KEEP GETTING THE CAR REPAIRED. SO I'M THINKING ABOUT GETTING READ OF THE CAR. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11104067

69,456 miles · Aug 7, 2017

Unknown Or Other

PASSENGER DOOR SEAL FAILED RESULTING IN FLOODING OF THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE. MOISTURE CAUSED THE STARTING SENSOR TO FAIL AND THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. THERE WAS ALSO RAPID GROWTH OF MOLD IN THE VEHICLE FROM THIS MOISTURE. THE ONLY RESOLUTION WAS TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE INTERIOR, SHAMPOO THE CARPET, AND DRY EVERYTHING OUT. ON-LINE…

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NHTSA ODI #11013436

49,000 miles · Sep 22, 2014

EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

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MY CAR STARTED TO ACT FUNNY. ALMOST SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS SUFFOCATING. IT WOULD DIE ABOUT TEN TO FIFTEEN TIMES EVERY MORNING BEFORE I WOULD FINALLY GET THE CAR STARTED. IT WOULD SHUT OFF WHEN I STOPPED AT INTERSECTIONS. THE ONLY TIME IT RAN DECENT WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING HIGHWAYS SPEEDS FOR 20 MINUTES OR MORE. I CHANGED OUT FILTERS, SPARK PLUGS, AND FLUIDS BUT NONE OF IT CHANGED THE WAY IT WAS RUNNING. COME TO FIND OUT IT THAT THE CHAIN AND CHAIN TENSIONER HAD BROKEN. THIS DAMAGE CAUSED ROUGHLY $1000 TO FIX. LUCKILY I CAUGHT IT IN TIME BEFORE IT DID ADDITIONAL DAMAGES TO THE CRANK SHAFT. WITH LOW MILES THE MECHANIC EVEN TOLD ME ITS A FAULT PART AND BRAKES EASILY. HE HAS HAD TO REPLACE NUMEROUS AMERICAN MODEL MINIS IN ITALY. MY COUNTRY CODE IS 39 IF YOU CALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637939

100,000 miles · Feb 21, 2014

EngineUnknown Or Other

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I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND ONLY HEARD A SPINNING SOUND. FIRST I THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION OR STARTER WOULD NEED REPLACING BUT AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED IT IS THE TIMING CHAIN. UPON FURTHER REVIEW I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BELT HAD SHATTERED AND BENT THE VALVES, AND NOW THE PISTONS ARE BLOCKED AND A PLETHORA OF OTHER THINGS. THE TOTAL TO REPAIR THIS DOMINO EFFECT OF DAMAGE IS ABOVE $8,000 AND JUST THE CHAIN ALONE IS 1500 BUT I WAS INFORMED WOULD BE A GRAND MISTAKE BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT RUN. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO IS FINANCIALLY CHALLENGED AND AM NOW IN TOO DEEP TO EVEN TRY AND FLOAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565294

72,000 miles · Jan 5, 2013

EngineUnknown Or Other

TURBO OIL FEED PIPING FAILS AT CONNECTOR. BANJO TYPE FITTING ON TUBING FAILS ON CONNECTION ABOVE TURBO, SPILLING OIL ON TURBO UNIT. PRODUCES SMOKE AND A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10491509

29,758 miles · May 31, 2012

EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

ONE MONTH AFTER MINI OF CONCORD REPLACED MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FOR THE GASOLINE LEAK AND STRONG GAS SMELL WITHIN THE CABIN, AGAIN THE GAS SMELL STARTED UP IN THE CABIN (FOR ALL TRIPS). I TOOK IT BACK TO MINI OF CONCORD (THIS IS 14 MONTHS AFTER BUYING CAR), AND THEY AGAIN FOUND A LEAK IN THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND LINE…

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NHTSA ODI #10460147

74,000 miles · Jan 3, 2012

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainUnknown Or Other

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WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC FOLLOWING EXTENDED HIGHWAY SPEED, STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ENGINE DIED WITH NO WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE TO ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP. LEARNED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP SEIZED / LOCKED UP, CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION OF CATASTROPHIC RESULTS THAT TOTALLY DESTROYED ENGINE. CAR NEEDS COMPLETE NEW ENGINE AT 74,000 MILES (OUT OF WARRANTY)AND MINI USA ATTITUDE IS THAT SUCH ENGINE FAILURE IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH THIS PARTICULAR MINI WAS IMPECCABLY MAINTAINED BEYOND MINI SERVCIE REQUIREMENTS, BUT TO NO AVAIL AS ENGINE BLEW AT A VERY YOUNG 74,000 MILES OF AGE AND THERE ARE REPEATED INSTANCES OF SAME ENGINE FAILURE ON INTERNET BMW/MINI BLOGS. NOTE: THIS CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE FOLLOWS LAST YEAR'S LARGE OUT OF WARRANTY EXPENSE OF REPLACING THE ENTIRE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK SYSTEM AS VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY AND AGAIN MINI FELT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR EQUIPMENT FAILURE EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE FACT THAT ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK IS NO LONGER INSTALLED IN NEW MINI COOPERS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10442269

15,200 miles · Apr 2, 2011

Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherFire

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MY MINT CONDITION 2007 MINI COOPER S WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE ON 3/31/11. I HAD JUST DRIVEN IT 4.5 MILES TO WORK, PARKED IT, WHEN APPROXIMATELY 12-15 MINUTES LATER I WAS ALERTED BY THE COMPANY SECURITY DEPARTMENT THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE TOWNSHIP POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE ALREADY ON THE SCENE PUTTING OUT THE BLAZE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL AND STARTED IN THE ENGINE. MY PRISTINE CAR WITHOUT A SCRATCH OR DENT ON IT, HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 15,000 MILES -- AND IT WAS DESTROYED. THE CAR HAD BEEN FAITHFULLY MAINTAINED AND I BELIEVED IT TO BE IN PERFECT RUNNING CONDITION. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT AND NO OTHER CARS WERE DAMAGED. BUT WHAT IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE? I WAS SHOCKED TO READ ONLINE THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE SHARED SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AND THAT YOU CAN FIND NUMEROUS VIDEO CLIPS ON YOU-TUBE SHOWING MINIS ON FIRE. WHAT IS BMW DOING ABOUT THIS? UPDATED 08/17/11*BF UPDATED 02/02/2012 *LN *TR

NHTSA ODI #10394808

74,597 miles · Feb 21, 2011

Unknown Or Other

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THE CAR HAS A LOUD RATTLE SOUND WHEN STARTED WHEN COLD , OR THE FIRST TIME AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT. NOISE WILL SUBSIDE AS ENGINE COMES UP TO RUNNING TEMPERATURE. HAS DEVELOPED INTO A HARD STARTING ISSUE OVER TIME. AT TIMES IT TAKES AS MANY AS TEN ATTEMPTS CRANKING THE ENGINE TO GET IT TO START. WHEN RESEARCHING ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND A FORUM ON MINI COOPER PROBLEMS THAT DESCRIBES THE ISSUE EXACTLY AND ALSO HAS A VIDEO WITH SOUND THAT EXACTLY MATCHES MY CARS PROBLEM. THEY DESCRIBE IT AS THE TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER THAT COULD CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE IF NOT CORRECTED.

NHTSA ODI #10384881

Official recalls

23V337000 · Electrical System

May 11, 2023

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2014 MINI Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Clubman John Cooper Works, and 2007-2013 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. The electronic control module in the driver's side footwell area may short-circuit, due to corrosion from water and road salt.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the sunroof drains, interior footwell area, and FRM and, depending upon the results of the inspection, certain components will be replaced. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

18V248000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

Apr 18, 2018

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

Consequence: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Consequence: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

12V008000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

Jan 11, 2012

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2011 MINI COOPER S, 2008-2011 MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN, 2009-2011 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE, 2009-2011 MINI COOPER JCW, 2009-2011 MINI COOPER JCW CLUBMAN, 2009-2011 COOPER JCW CONVERTIBLE, AND 2011 COOPER S COUNTRYMAN PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 14, 2006, THROUGH JANUARY 18, 2011. THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP THAT COOLS THE TURBOCHARGER HAS AN ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BOARD THAT CAN MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE CIRCUIT BOARD MAY SMOLDER WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WATER PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGANDURING FEBRUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-866-275-6464.

08V657000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe

Dec 12, 2008

BMW IS RECALLING 28,450 MY 2007-2008 MINI COOPER S VEHICLES. THE CENTRALLY LOCATED TAILPIPE EXTENSION PROTRUDES SLIGHTLY BEYOND THE REAR BUMPER. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR INADVERTENT CONTACT TO OCCUR WITH A PERSON'S LEG.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE TAILPIPE EXTENSION IS HOT DURING INADVERTENT CONTACT, A BURN COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TAILPIPE WITH A NEW SHORTER TAILPIPE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-866-275-6464.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE11036 · Engine Compartment Fire

Opened Oct 11, 2011 · Closed Jun 11, 2012

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

In a January 10, 2012 letter to NHTSA, BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) identifying a defect in the electric auxiliary water pump in approximately 88,911 model year (MY) 2007-2011 Mini Cooper vehicles manufactured from November 14, 2006 through January 18, 2011 (Recall 12V-008).According to BMW, the auxiliary water pump on vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder turbocharged engines may overheat.Electro-migration can cause the pump electronic circuit board to overheat resulting in smoldering of the water pump. If smoldering occurs, it may lead to an engine compartment or vehicle fire.The pump supplier, Pierburg Pump Technology GmbH, redesigned the pump to address factors that may contribute to circuit board overheating.The redesigned pumps were completely implemented in production vehicles by January 2011.Recall 12V-008 was the third recall initiated by BMW to address electric auxiliary water pump fires in vehicles equipped with Pierburg pumps.In two October 20, 2011 letters to NHTSA, BMW submitted DIRs for similar auxiliary water pump defect conditions in approximately 32,084 MY 2008-2011 BMW 5-Series, 7-Series, X5 and X6 models equipped with 8- and 12-cylinder engines and manufactured from May 2008 through December 2010 (Recall 11V-521); and for approximately 589 MY 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost vehicles manufactured from September 2009 through September 2010 (Recall 11V-522).In three separate April 5, 2012 letters to NHTSA, BMW submitted amendments to Recalls 11V-521, 11V-522 and 12V-008.The amendments all described a common defect condition related to a manufacturing process deviation in a certain production range of the redesigned Pierburg water pumps that could result in cracks in the pump housing, which may allow coolant to enter and contact the pump?s circuit board.BMW indicated that further analysis identified a specific machine process error at the sub-supplier that manufactures the water pump housing.Pump housing cracks may cause the circuit board to overheat and lead to smoldering of the water pump.Recall 12V-008 was, thus, amended to include approximately 1,457 MY 2011 Mini Cooper vehicles manufactured from March 31, 2011 through April 22, 2011, when pumps manufactured with the suspect manufacturing process may have been used in vehicle assembly.The amendment to Recall 11V-521 was assigned a new recall number, Recall 12V-161, and covered approximately 2,846 MY 2011-2012 BMW 5-Series, 6-Series, 7-Series, X5, and X6 vehicles manufactured from April 1, 2011 through August 1, 2011.The amendment to Recall 11V-522 was assigned a new recall number, Recall 12V-166, and covered approximately 69 MY 2011 Rolls-Royce Ghost vehicles manufactured from April 7, 2011 through June 2, 2011.The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by BMW as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers. In total, there were 30 unique Mini Cooper reports indicating engine fire.In addition, BMW provided warranty data showing 493 claims for replacement of the subject component on Mini Cooper vehicles.Owners of the recalled vehicles are notified to take their vehicle to a BMW dealer, who will replace the auxiliary water pump to prevent any incidents related to this issue.This preliminary evaluation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be viewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers (ODI Nos.):10286597, 10286663, 10289793, 10310677, 10314796, 10342365, 10394808, 10394192, 10403982, 10418325, 10422646, 10429003.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Engine And Engine Cooling

EA08020 · Exhaust Pipe Burns

Opened Aug 29, 2008 · Closed Jan 2, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System

BMW WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (08V-657) ON 28,450 MINI COOPER S VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 18, 2006 THROUGH JULY 8, 2008.DEALERS WILL INSTALL MODIFIED EXHAUST PIPE TIPS THAT DO NOT EXTEND BEYOND THE REAR BUMPER.THE TWO EXHAUST PIPE TIPS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES EXIT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AT THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE AND EXTEND BEYOND THE REAR BUMPER.THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED BEING BURNED ON THEIR LEGS WHEN THEY INADVERTENTLY TOUCHED THE EXPOSED HOT EXHAUST PIPE TIPS WHILE REMOVING ITEMS OF CARGO FROM THE REAR OF THEIR VEHICLE VIA THE HATCH BACK DOOR.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORTED BEING BURNED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION OR THAT OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WERE ALSO BURNED.THE 50 INJURIES REPORTED IN THIS INVESTIGATION INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT SECOND DEGREE BURNS CAUSING BLISTERED AND SCARED SKIN AND ONE INCIDENT RESULTED IN A THIRD DEGREE BURN.THIS INVESTIGATION ALSO RESULTED IN AN INITIAL DECISION OF A DEFECT.FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE INITIAL DECISION AND DETAILS OF THE INVESTIGATION SEE DOCUMENTS, INRM-EA08020-31646.PDF (INITIAL DECISION LETTER) AND INIR-EA08020-31648.PDF (INITIAL DECISION REPORT), IN THE INVESTIGATION FILE.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

PE08031 · Exhaust Pipe Burns

Opened Apr 28, 2008 · Closed Aug 29, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON THREE CONSUMER REPORTS.THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED BEING BURNED ON THEIR LEGS BY THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE TIP WHILE THEY WERE REMOVING CARGO ITEMS FROM THE REAR HATCH AREA OF THEIR VEHICLES.THE MINI COOPER S MODEL HAS DUAL EXHAUST PIPE TIPS THAT ARE LOCATED AT THE CENTER LINE OF THE VEHICLEUNDER THE REAR BUMPER.THE EXHAUST PIPE TIPS EXTEND BEYOND THE EDGE OF THE BUMPER.ODI IS UPGRADING THIS INVESTIGATION TO ENGINEERING ANALYSIS EA08-020 BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY BMW IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S PE08-031 INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER.